You might think that lists are unnecessary. You might say lists are for scatterbrains. But what happens when you leave something behind? Few things are as unsettling than discovering all the buttons on your suit are loose--when you're on the plane.

Make life easy for yourself. Spend a few minutes thinking about all the things you need on a daily basis. Then think about what you could need if something went wrong.

Raid the medicine cabinet

Are you a stickler for a specific type of shampoo? Put it on your list.

Go into your bathroom and write down every toiletry item you use on a daily basis. The items that aren't provided by your hotel can go straight on that list.

Raid the closet

An easy way to coordinate outfits, save space with accessories and shoes, and generally save hassle, is to color coordinate your clothing. Choose suits or outfits that can be used with one pair of shoes and one belt. You may also consider the one suit, many different shirts and ties (or different jewelry) approach. This works well as a space saver, but is somewhat more difficult for women than men. Women may consider choosing one skirt (black has the most options) and several different-colored blazers. Choose exactly what you'd like to wear each day and write it down.

Pay attention to the details and prioritize:

Here's a sample list of items you may like to include on a trip.

Clothing essentials:

• White shirt(s)
• Tie (for men)
• Dress shoes
• Dress socks/ nylons--pack lots of extra pairs!
• Underwear
• Suit, all pieces, or alternate business wear, or "smart casual" wear depending on your situation

Clothing optionals:

• Pajamas
• Casual clothes/workout gear
• Sneakers

Accessory and toiletry essentials--You'll kick yourself if you forget these.

(Consider taking all, or at least some, of these items on the plane in your carry-on bag. Checked luggage could get lost, and you'd probably be very unhappy without your toothbrush.)

• Flight tickets
• Credit cards, including frequent flyer cards, identification.
• Passport (if needed)
• Money
• Pen
• Watch
• Umbrella
• Small mirror
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Medication

  Toiletry items you might want:

• Nail clippers/files
• Needle, thread, safety pins--don't say it won't happen to you, it could.
• Shoe polish and cloth, try to find a miniature size.
• Makeup
• Hair accessories, solvents
• Jewelry
• Ear plugs
• Feminine protection
• Nailpolish (to fix running hoisery)

Computer accessories:

• The computer
• A bag or case for the computer
• Plug, and adapters if needed
• Modem
• Other computer essentials, such as a zip drive, disks, or CD-ROMs

Other accessories:

A steamer. It's more compact and certainly lighter in weight than an iron, but it does the job! Consider whether you even need one in the first place--you can hang your clothes up in a steamy bathroom and your wrinkles will fold out.