Whether you’re travelling for a business conference, going on a research trip or visiting a remote office, travelling for work still represents the dream for so many, even in 2022. You’re not stuck in the office, you get to visit and experience new cities, countries and cultures, and you get a little bit of ‘me’ time…in an ideal world, that is!
Indeed, with remote working on the rise, people in a whole range of industries are discovering the benefits of travelling for work, and even being abroad for longer stretches on a kind of work/vacation hybrid – the ‘workation’.
So far, so appealing. But speak to business travellers and they may well tell you that life on the road isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Sitting in airports, being away from loved ones, and dealing with jetlag, all while juggling work demands and deadlines, can take its toll on your mental health.
As highlighted in the annual trends report commissioned by IBTM World, the leading global event for the meetings and events industry, “the seriousness of the ‘mental health pandemic’ should be taken more seriously’’.
We couldn’t agree more. Whether you work in the events industry, the travel industry, or any industry where you have to travel for work for that matter, here are 6 ways to watch your wellbeing while travelling for work.
Pack Healthy Snacks
When you’re on the road and have a busy schedule of events, you never know when you’re going to eat. Sure, if you’re on a long haul flight you’ll probably eat on the plane, but for the most part, inflight food options are pretty unappetizing. Moreover, the food at the airport isn’t much better – Burger King, KFC or Starbucks, anyone?
A little treat is fine, but a long run of unhealthy eating can take its toll on your wellbeing. Pre-empt this necessity to eat the nearest food to hand and take snacks in your hand luggage, keeping some in your purse, too, for when those hunger pangs strike.
Pretty much all solid foods are allowed in your hand luggage, even live lobsters if in clear, sealed, spill-proof containers with ice, so consider cooking an extra portion of dinner the night before travel and taking leftovers on your flight. Trailmix is always a good idea too; if it’s good enough for sustaining mountaineers and trekkers, we reckon it’ll do the job for any long-haul flight, business meetings or a conference, too.
IDEAL Tip: When you are finally home, take a little time to batch cook some meals that you can freeze and take with you on your next trip. This little trick also means you’ll have something tasty waiting for you when you get back from your trip next time!
Read: 6 IDEAL snacks to take in your hand luggage
Take A Loved One With You
Travelling for business forces you to spend time away from your home, family and friends, and because of this, it can be a pretty lonely affair. While of course you can still video call, it’s not the same as having someone there in the flesh. Moreover, consistent travel can cause strained relationships with those left at home – they have the burden of taking care of all things domestic while you’re away, and resentment might build.
Why not ask your work if you can bring a friend or spouse along on the trip? Businesses are often surprisingly open to this, and responsible employers may even help with your spouses travel expenses. This way, you can spend meaningful time together whilst still fulfilling your work commitments. Everybody wins!
Work In Transit
If you have some downtime on that long train ride or long haul flight, and if you’re not too exhausted, try and get ahead of work while in transit. Whether it’s prepping for that meeting or presentation or catching up on your emails, at least you’ll be putting all that largely liminal time to good use.
It can reduce stress and may mean you can take advantage of the freetime at your destination, hopefully giving you the chance to unplug, recharge those batteries, and explore.
Read: 7 IDEAL ways to kill time at the airport
Don’t Feel Guilty About Relaxing
Don’t feel bad or guilty if all you want to do is order room service, turn on the hotel telly and do nothing. We know you may think that you should be out experiencing the city you’re in, but sometimes it’s okay to just do nothing. In fact, sometimes it’s actively better for you to embrace a little r’n’r!
Indeed, as the Scientific American reports in their fascinating article Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime, ‘’Downtime replenishes the brain’s stores of attention and motivation, encourages productivity and creativity, and is essential to both achieve our highest levels of performance and simply form stable memories in everyday life.’’
Keep A Sense Of Routine
We’ve all been there when travelling, having a pint for breakfast at the airport, catching up on sleep during daylight hours, and enjoying a croissant for dinner before logging into our emails…
We said we’d all been there, right? Right?
Anyway, there’s often a temptation on the road to throw your usual routine out the window is favour of something more freeform, but this can be detrimental not only to your productivity, but also to your wellbeing.
Routine and structure are, according to most experts, incredibly good for you, giving your day a sense of organisation, purpose and focus, so do try do observe a few of the same key moments during the day that you would observe back home, whether that’s your 11am run, your evening phone call to your folks, or your beloved breakfast of Muesli.
Read: Self-care routines to adopt today
Beat Jet lag
Hectic airports, delayed flights and lost luggage – travelling on a plane can be stressful at the best of times. Unfortunately, if you are crossing multiple time zones, you can also expect symptoms of jet lag. From headaches and irritation, to diarrhoea and a pounding heart, jet lag hits without warning and it can turn you into a zombie.
After that dire warning, let us change the mood and end by directing you to our top tips on top tips on beating jet lag naturally. We hope your next trip is a fruitful and happy one!