As frequent flyers know, it’s no fun to set out for the airport feeling fresh only to wind up sweating in a wrinkled business suit by the time you reach the TSA checkpoint.

How you prepare for your business trip can ultimately determine whether you arrive feeling happy or crappy. It’s easy to overlook your health during the journey, especially one prolonged by delays, cancellations or missed connections. It’s also easy to abandon plans of being productive en route and hopes of looking dignified when traveling alongside colleagues or potential work contacts.

But it doesn’t need to be that way. With some strategic planning, you can overcome any obstacles to staying calm, cool and composed throughout your trip. Here are strategies to make business travel a success.

© Romowa

LIGHTEN YOUR LUGGAGE
Start your trip by packing wisely. It’s hard to stay fresh when you’re bogged down with bags or struggling to pilot wheeled luggage across myriad airport terrains, so be sure to choose your luggage strategically. Don’t get stuck with a carry-on that compromises your comfort.

Whether you need to consolidate items before boarding or schlep something heavy, Hulken’s Rolling Carry-On Tote is lightweight, collapsible and easy to pull around the airport without weighing you down. Rimowa’s Essential Cabin Plus is sleek, right-sized and made of high-performance polycarbonate. If you have business attire you want to keep wrinkle-free but also want to keep your hands free of a garment sleeve, try Tumi’s sturdy and surprisingly large Extended Trip 4 Wheeled Garment Bag.

© Tumi

“To prevent luggage-related injuries, you should either load the body symmetrically, like with a backpack, or roll the luggage to
offload the spine or shoulders,” said Kyle Duarte, a sports medicine specialist at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.

Delta One lounges’ luxurious shower suite © Delta Air Lines

USE THE LOUNGE
Airport lounges have come a long way since 1939 when American Airlines opened the first one at LaGuardia Airport. They’ve since become oases tucked away from the hustle and bustle, with airlines and credit card companies opening sites around the world at a frenzied clip to accommodate a surge in demand. Priority Pass, the world’s largest independent airline lounge network, operates more than 1,700 lounges across 145 countries. Sign up for a membership or look into whether your credit card provides access as a benefit.

Even the most minimal lounges provide food and drink as well as a stronger WiFi connection and more comfortable seating than you’re likely to find waiting at your gate. The most luxurious spots, such as Delta One lounges or Chase Sapphire’s Reserve Suites, feel like 5-star hotels, boasting shower suites, sleeping pods and complimentary spa treatments.

© Tumi

STAY CONNECTED
Whether you opt for the lounge or choose to wait for your plane at the gate, pack the devices you need to stay connected. When
keeping in contact is crucial, bring a hotspot like Simo’s compact Solis Hero, which comes with a monthly global data plan. Make sure your equipment doesn’t run out of power while you’re on the move with Tumi’s 3-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger.

Even on light traffic days, airport travel can be cacophonous. Whether it’s your seatmate’s Zoom meeting or the tired toddler in Row 38, you’ll need something to block the noise. Bose’s noise-cancelling QuietComfort Ultra Headphones can help you focus on the task at hand, whether that’s working or relaxing. Bonus: The plush leather ear cushions feel like a massage for your ears.

© Bose

KEEP ESSENTIALS NEARBY
Having what you need on hand is key to comfort, but strategy won’t matter if your items are in the overhead compartment or in a bag that you can’t reach easily. Keeping items such as your laptop, headphones and Dopp kit in a compact carry-all like Away The Everywhere Bag means you’ll be likelier to work, relax or freshen up on a long flight.

Stock it with the latest crop of design-focused tech accessories that are geared toward making travel more comfortable and stylish, too. The Suri 2.0 electric toothbrush, for example, fits into a sleek, rechargeable case that will make you look forward to climbing over your seatmate for a bathroom break.

© Away

GET COMFORTABLE
No one wants to shiver or swelter in their seat for hours on end, so don’t put yourself at the mercy of the plane’s climate control. Most cabins are vulnerable to swings in temperature, so it’s wise to layer. Keep cozy with a versatile scarf like White + Warren’s Cashmere Travel Wrap that’s large enough to double as a blanket, or Sofia Cashmere’s lightweight Voyage Travel Wrap that layers effortlessly for a polished look. Accessory aficionados can ramp up the aesthetic with a matching wrap, socks and eye mask from Santicler’s Cloud Nine Cashmere Travel Set.

During air travel, and especially on longer flights, remember to get out of your seat and get your blood circulating to reduce swelling in your legs and feet. Wearing compression socks, like those from Bombas, can also help avoid potential health complications such as deep vein thrombosis and decrease the risk of developing blood clots.

Stretching helps, too. “When you are in constant hip flexion, like when sitting for a prolonged time, your glutes become inhibited,” Duarte said. To target your hip flexors and glutes, he recommends standing in a split stance, squeezing the glute of the back leg for six to 10 seconds, and repeating the movement three to five times on each side.

© Pluto Pillow

SLEEP WELL
You’ll also want to minimize the persistent neck and shoulder strain that accrues with miles traveled. The Pluto Pod, a travel pillow modeled after the 360-degree support of a neck brace, features a built-in eye mask and a padded hood so you can lean against surfaces comfortably. Created in partnership with global design firm IDEO, the pillow is even sold at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Ozlo Sleepbuds were created by former Bose engineers to replace the noises that disrupt sleep with the sounds of your choosing, whether it’s an audio book, podcast or custom-made audio equalizer tailored for sleep. They come with 32 hours of battery life and are comfortable even for side sleepers.

KEEP YOUR ROUTINE
Maintaining your healthy habits once you land will help you optimize your performance and business meetings on the ground. Whether it’s meditation or your morning run, try to remain consistent with your usual at-home routine. Pro tip: Nutribullet’s new, quiet, lightweight Flex Portable Blender is designed for travelers who want to stay healthy when away from home. Stock up on fresh fruit and veggies from home (if your luggage and local regulations allow) or through a local market or delivery service. Then load your favorite smoothie ingredients, hit start and take the 22-ounce cup as an on-the-go bottle with its leak-proof lid.

SYNC YOUR (BODY) CLOCK
Combat jet lag — the silent killer of health, mood and productivity — by staying awake until your local bedtime. You may be tempted to fall straight into bed once you open your hotel room door, but you’ll be more effective if you adjust your internal clock to your new time zone as soon as possible. Sitting in the sun, drinking water, taking a stroll or hitting the hotel gym can help. Preparation is key. Follow some or all of these tips and you’ll feel rejuvenated by your journey and arrive ready for business.