Some people love the opportunity to travel for work, others not so much. Regardless of where you might fall on the spectrum, it can come with challenges. Traveling for work can take its toll on you physically and mentally.
You’re spending time away from your home and comfort zone, your family and loved ones and there is just the physical element of it being more difficult to take care of your health when you aren’t at home.
From choosing the right hotel to staying healthy, the following are some tips to help you stay sane when you travel for work.
Choosing a Hotel
If you have the opportunity to choose where you stay during business trips, this can make a big difference in your level of comfort and happiness while you’re away.
A good business hotel is one that has as many amenities that are similar to your home as possible. If it’s an option for you, you might even think about renting an apartment or house so that you can feel more at home when you travel, especially during longer trips.
If you have to stay in a hotel, look for one that has breakfast options included. This will save you the time and effort of finding food in the morning before you head to meetings.
You will also want to consider hotels with reliable Wi-Fi, and you may need a room with a desk or workspace. If there isn’t a desk in your room, look for a hotel with at least a public work area.
If you’re someone who enjoys staying fit while you travel, a gym is a good amenity, and if you travel for long periods of time and want some sort of social interaction, you may opt to stay somewhere with an onsite restaurant and bar or organized social events.
If you are able to stay in a fairly nice hotel with good amenities, it’s going to give you a much better overall travel experience.
Plan Your Flights Based on Your Preferences
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to how they fly. Some people would rather take a later flight and spend an additional day at home. Other people want to be on the first flight available so they can get to their destination and get organized faster.
You have to know what works for you and plan your flights accordingly.
Map Out Healthy Eating Options
When you’re on the road for work, it’s extremely tempting just to eat whatever you can find. That’s usually going to mean lots of sugar, salt, and other things that are going to make you feel tired, bloated and not like you can operate at your best level.
Rather than waiting until the last minute to find food, map out your options before you hit the road. Peruse some restaurant menus near where you’re staying and find options that might be healthy.
Don’t wait until you’re so hungry you’ll eat anything either.
Take Time For Something You Enjoy
One of the best ways to stay sane when you’re traveling for work is to give yourself something to look forward to. Rather than robotically working and then sleeping, make time to see something interesting in the city where you are, such as a museum.
Maybe you can schedule a massage or pedicure, or any small thing that will make your business trip seem less terrible.
The idea of bleisure travel has become increasingly popular. Bleisure travel combines business and leisure, and you might even extend some of your work trips so your partner or family can join you.
Manage Expectations for Yourself
You aren’t going to be as productive when you’re traveling as you would be when you’re in your home office. You are going to have to deal with different situations and logistics, which can impact your productivity, so set reasonable expectations for yourself.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Prioritize what has to get done, and if necessary, leave it at that.
Finally, you don’t have to feel obligated to socialize with clients or coworkers when you’re traveling for work. This can make you feel more tired and overextended, so if you want to be alone to recharge, don’t be afraid to say so. Maybe you accept a few invitations, but not all of them and that’s okay too.
Set boundaries for yourself when you travel for work to maintain your own sense of sanity and make it more manageable.