by Charley Sunday, creator of astrongfoundation.net
Those of us that travel often know that it’s difficult to stay on track when we’re off the beaten path. It’s easy to miss our exercise routines, turn our sleep schedule upside down, and get disorganized. But there are ways to offset some of the chaos and keep yourself healthy and happy whether you’re away for a weekend or are across the country for a week-long business retreat.
Acclimate yourself to a new time zone.
If you’re traveling more than a time zone away, you’ll need to acclimate yourself to the location you’re heading to. Ideally, you’ll start by adapting your sleeping schedule at least a few days before you go. Once you arrive, head right into whatever activity makes sense for the current time. If it’s night, go to bed. Arriving at noon? Head to lunch.
Keep your documents organized.
One of the greatest things about the digital age is that you no longer have to carry notebooks full of paper with you when you travel. Instead, make sure that you have access to digital PDFs. In the days before you depart, make sure your important documents are digitized. You can use an online tool in order to split a PDF into separate files. Keep in mind that you will still need important documents like your driver’s license, passport, and, if applicable, COVID travel documents.
Maintain an exercise routine.
When your trip is only a few days, you may not have to worry too much about missing a gym session. But extended travel means finding ways to stay fit. A few options here include walking to your meetings and looking for a hotel or short-term apartment with access to a fitness center.
Keep your healthy mealtime habits.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you may only have time for the hotel buffet on your way out to an important meeting. This is not the time to raid the pastry rack. bistroMD suggests fueling up on fruit and yogurt parfaits, eggs, or bagels, and save the sweet treats for after-dinner coffee with your crew.
Alleviate stress on the go.
There is no sidestepping the fact that travel is stressful. There are a few things you can do to reduce stress before you head out, such as making a checklist of important things you can’t miss. Another smart tip is to plan ahead and schedule a massage for one of your “off-the-clock” evenings. Make a point to alert your coworkers that you do have plans for some of your downtime so that you don’t get roped into an unnecessary activity just for the sake of filling time.
Traveling for business means staying organized (using PDFs is great for this), but it also means staying active and caring for yourself. When you make smart decisions, such as booking a hotel with an on-site fitness center, signing up for a remote coaching program, and keeping your breakfast plate clean and healthy, you fuel yourself up for a successful trip. You never know when being on point may just get either recognition or the raise you deserve once you get back home.
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