“Wow, that sounds really cool. Have fun!” That’s the kind of thing people who don’t travel for business say to those who do.
If you’ve ever traveled for business, you know it’s a lot of work. Fun? Not that much. He is often ‘on’ for many hours a day, in meetings and lunches with clients and colleagues. The journey itself, especially by air, can be exhausting. Also, you don’t have the comforting presence of home and loved ones when you finally stop at the end of the day.
Still, it’s a great way to expand your business and take advantage of opportunities you might not otherwise have if you stayed home.
So how can you make business travel work as much for you as you do for them? Here are some strategies I’ve used over the years that make the process easier:
1. Smart package. It really pays to keep it light. Leave your bunny slippers and sequin ‘I Love Paris’ sweatshirt at home. Pack as little as possible: Plan ahead for exactly what you’ll wear and take only that. Minimize bulky items, including extra shoes. Pack it all up in a bag small enough to carry as carry-on luggage. Not only does it save you time, money, and blood pressure-raising conversations with airline staff if you get lost, because you’re not checking a bag. It’s also less for you to keep track of. That frees up mental space that comes in handy especially when you’re tired or worried about your next meeting. One final note on packing: roll your clothes instead of folding them. It really does reduce wrinkles, which means less work on your destination. Unless you find ironing relaxing, in which case kneading your clothes into tight balls works great.
2. You can take it with you. Having something familiar and meaningful with you can be very basic. Provides an instant image that takes you to your happy place. In addition to the usual photos of that embarrassing moment at the last family gathering, or of your dog looking cute and guilty with a bitten chair leg in his mouth, you can also carry a (small) piece of uniqueness with you to help ground you. . I have carried small pieces of art with me that I then put on my hotel desk or nightstand. For a while, I carried a red metal moose with me (he’s the guy in the photo) when I was away a lot. He reminded me of home.
3. Shhhhhhh. Bring noise-canceling headphones on flights. While it’s comforting to know the plane’s engines are still working, listening to the constant roar for hours on end can be surprisingly exhausting. Reducing that noise, as well as giving you control over what you listen to through your smartphone or tablet, reduces ongoing stress.
4. Track your numbers. Email photos of any important documents that may be stolen or forgotten. You can access them from anywhere in the world which allows you to access your email and speed up the replacement process.
5. Feed your body and your soul. Eat well. Move on. Listen to uplifting things. That pretty much sums up my nutrition strategies on the road. Eating healthy foods and not overeating can be a challenge, especially when meals are pre-selected for you, say at a gathering, or your customer’s product is chili and cheese dogs with all the fixings (eat! ). Plan this ahead by asking about healthy options. (Organic chili anyone?) Next: get moving! Get up during your flight and walk up and down the aisle several times. You get some worried looks if you do this in a hurry or stand near the booth door, but it’s invigorating and keeps your energy level high. It is also worth getting up early to walk, swim or exercise. Finally listening to music or a great talk or book that feeds you will support your Entrepreneurial Energy.
6. Be your own VIP! Any little way you can treat yourself really well on a business trip will help you not only feel better, but also build the confidence you need to perform well. How would you treat a visiting VIP? Apply this to yourself. It doesn’t have to be just the more obvious business class seats (frequent flyer points will earn you these too) or airport lounge access (available through some credit cards, if not through your flyer miles). frequent). VIP treatment also means making thoughtful decisions, personalized for you. It may mean that you choose carefully what and where you eat. You take some time off to watch the Road Runner cartoons. You indulge in a great magazine or book that you normally don’t have time for. Look for little ways to revel in attentive attention.
Business travel doesn’t have to be such hard work. By supporting yourself in this way when traveling on business, you make the best use of your opportunities, money and energy.
And hey, you might even have a good time!