Barton Associates: 7 Items That Add a Piece of Home to a Locum Tenens Assignment

Exploring a new city, tasting new food, and connecting with new people are just a few of the benefits of locum tenens assignments. While traveling can be exciting, even the nicest hotel can begin to feel drab after a few weeks. Never fear! Below, we have outlined a few items you can bring with you on assignment that will make any hotel feel like a home away from home. Small Mementos Bring along those photographs you keep on your nightstand. Pictures of friends, family, or pets can be very comforting when spending time away from loved ones. Consider a light-weight travel frame or a digital frame, which can store hundreds of images. Add some character to the room by tucking the hotel information brochures in a drawer and replacing them with your favorite books and magazines. Feel free to bring along other small items such as cherished paperweights or figurines. Smells Next, pack a favorite scented candle or fragrance to make your room smell just like home. If your hotel does not allow candles, bring a flameless candle or a simple diffuser like the Paddy Wax Relish Diffuser. Consider packing fabric softener sheets and tucking them in your pillow case and dresser drawers for simple, low-cost air freshener. Toiletries Bringing your own toiletries will also make the hotel feel more like home. The Eagle Creek Pack-It can hold all of your favorite toiletries, and it can hang on the back of your bathroom door to keep everything organized. Also consider using the BPA-free GoToob containers to conveniently store all your different bath, beauty, and skincare products. Music Listening to your favorite tunes can help you unwind after work. Consider making a playlist of cherished songs and pack portable speakers so you can fill the room with the music you love. Maybe bring along some calming nature-themed music or white noise sounds to improve your sleep in a new environment. Technology You might also want to bring a tablet or laptop so you can keep up with your favorite shows. Bring a video cable to connect your computer to the TV in your room to have a relaxing movie night. A computer can also help you stay in contact with friends and family through video chatting and social media. Coffee & Snacks While free hotel coffee can be tolerable, nothing compares with your preferred cup of high-quality joe. You might want to bring your own coffee beans and invest in a travel kit that comes with a grinder and collapsible dripper, like the Voyager by Stumptown Coffee. Waking up to the smell of your favorite coffee will make every morning seem more like home. Also consider packing some of your most loved snacks. Final Touches Create a cozier space by bringing your own pillowcase and your favorite robe and comfy slippers. Consider rearranging small pieces of furniture to better suit your personality. If you are traveling somewhere with dry air, bring a portable air humidifier. When you arrive, make a trip to the grocery store to purchase a small plant or flower bouquet to add some color and freshness to the room. Even though locum tenens accommodations are only temporary, there are a variety of ways to personalize, accent, and enliven your surroundings. While you likely cannot fit all these things in your suitcase, the smallest changes can make even the most uninspiring hotel room a home away from home.