Do you that it you can definitely tell an experienced business traveler from someone new to the experience. Why? Because for some, who are new to business travel, it is very tempting to participate in excesses on the road. As a business traveler, you are an adult and your company trusts you to conduct yourself in a businesslike fashion during your time out representing the firm. But it is easy to let the idea of an expense account and free time in a faraway town get the best of you and to let yourself go as you travel.
These kinds of excesses are the types of behavior that you will see an experienced business traveler avoid. If you are setting out on a lengthy business trip, perhaps lasting many weeks and traversing many cities, the road can take a toll on your health and well-being. The disruption to your standard life patterns, the hard work, and the stress of making connections and moving from town to town can introduce levels of fatigue that can take a toll and even lead to illness on the road. And there is no more unpleasant experience than being ill while traveling for business and still having to do your duties despite your poor health.
For this reason, observing some strict rules of good living on the road will pay off over the life of the trip and make the rigors of travel much less severe. Much of the discipline of business travel involves simply introducing a daily routine to your life that includes some healthy activities so you can keep your physical, mental, and emotional state in good shape and ready for business every day. Some simple but effective rules to live by for a healthy business travel experience include…
* Sleep routines: A good night’s sleep is something we take for granted. And to get into a rested state takes more than just a bed and an alarm clock. You have routines at home that you use to cycle down toward rest. Adapt those to life on the road and allow yourself that hour before bed to get ready to rest and ample time to rest and sleep. Both are necessary for good health.
* Regular exercise: Most hotels have an exercise room or pool you can use to stretch your muscles. Sitting in airplanes or conference rooms can cramp your muscles and prevent good flexibility. Even if it is nothing more than taking a walk after dinner or doing some simple exercises at night in the hotel, give your body some movement to stretch those muscles and get some fresh oxygen into your blood.
* Time not working: For the sake of your mental health, take some time just for you. If you are in a town with some fun things to see, get away from the business side of business travel and go to the zoo, a museum, or see an attraction to give your mind a break from the stress of business. And take a few hours at night to relax in the hotel and read a book or watch your favorite TV show. You need that mental downtime to recuperate and process all that is happening during your trip.
* Good foods: Don’t succumb to eating fast food. Look for restaurants that will serve you well-rounded meals. Ensure you eat fruits, dairy, vegetables, breads, and good healthy proteins daily.
* Don’t drink: Alcohol, while fun, is a huge drain on your body’s resources. The time spent drinking and recovering makes demands on your body that take away from your stamina and ability to stay healthy each day. So, avoid alcohol other than perhaps a glass of wine at night. You will survive the trip so much better if you are careful about your alcohol consumption.
Some of these ideas seem quite simple. But if you have done any business travel, you know that sometimes the simple requirement of a healthy diet and some time to exercise and rest can be elusive in a busy work schedule. But if you make it a priority to live well on the road as you do at home, you will come home ready to deal with home issues without having that long time to recover from the trip.
Wishing You A Safe and Productive Work Trip
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