A traveller's system for packing, jet lag and avoiding holiday mishaps

Emma Grede, co-founder of fashion brands Good American and Skims, says she has not booked a flight, hotel or anything else in 18 years. She credits her husband Jens, whom she calls the world's most organised man, with leaving nothing to chance and keeping holiday mishaps from happening.

For packing, she describes herself as very organised, with a set system and checklist. She starts each outfit with underwear and pyjamas and builds from there. Though she admits she is not a light packer, carrying a cabin bag, a large handbag and three smaller handbags tucked inside it, she says she has never forgotten anything important.

She also shares habits around reading and in-flight time. On holiday she brings a pile of books and works through them, favouring ones she sees as useful tools. On planes, she relaxes her usual screen-time rules and allows her children to use an iPad for the whole flight, taking it back the moment the aircraft stops.

What it means for travellers from India

• A simple written checklist can cut down on forgotten items, and laying out each outfit from basics upward is one way to stay ordered.
• Carrying a small selection of books on a trip can be a low-cost way to unwind and use long journeys productively.
• If you travel with a well-prepared companion, sharing the planning can reduce the chance of disruptions.
• For parents, allowing screen time only during a flight can help keep a long flight calm while keeping rules in place at home.