How to Stay on Routine When You Travel for Business

If you are a business owner who travels for conferences, you probably already know that travel messes with your head. You lose focus when you are off routine. You get scattered and do not show up the way you want to. So you have two choices. You either accept that travel is going to derail you, or you bring your routine with you. I chose the second one.

Why does travel derail your focus?

Your brain needs structure to function at its best, and the second you are in a hotel room in a strange city, that structure disappears. When you are off routine, you lose focus. You get scattered, and you do not show up the way you want to.

What should you do first when you arrive?

When I arrive somewhere new, one of the first things I do is order from Instacart. Veggie tray, snacks, half-and-half for my coffee, sparkling ice black raspberry. I am recreating the things that ground me. They are better for me, less expensive than the hotel, and it feels like home.

How do you keep your coffee routine on the road?

Before I leave my house, I check what kind of coffee maker is in the room and I bring extra coffee. I pack my frother too, because I am a bit bougie. If I am going somewhere for more than a few days and the hotel does not have a coffee maker (hello Vegas, I am looking at you), I literally pack my Keurig in my checked bag. Yes, I am serious, and it is worth it.

Why organize your bag down to the smallest detail?

My backpack is organized down to the smallest detail. I have a cord organizer that holds all my cables, microphones, and battery chargers. My lipstick, chapstick, and touch-up makeup live in one small bag. Nothing loose or flying around. Everything exactly where I need it.

Does this level of planning actually work?

This sounds obsessive, and maybe it is, but it works. When you are in a strange city at a conference, you want some semblance of normalcy. You want your routine intact so you can show up fully instead of being scattered and stressed. Travel does not have to be exhausting. It just has to be intentional. You bring your routine with you instead of leaving it behind. And if you ever spot me at a conference with a coffee in my hand, that is not a coincidence. That is strategy.

The same intentionality that keeps you sharp on the road is what builds a business that runs without you. If you are ready to build yours, learn more about Slayer’s Built to Acquire™.

Frequently asked questions

How do you stay on routine when traveling for business?
Recreate the things that ground you as soon as you arrive: a grocery order with your normal snacks and coffee supplies, your own coffee setup, and a bag where everything has its place. The goal is normalcy, so you can show up fully instead of scattered and stressed.

Is it worth packing your own coffee maker?
If the trip is more than a few days and the hotel does not have one, yes. Having your normal coffee in the room is worth the space in a checked bag.

What should you order when you arrive at a hotel?
A grocery order with a veggie tray, snacks, half-and-half for your coffee, and your favorite sparkling water. It is better for you, less expensive than the hotel, and it feels like home.