Travel

Coping With Life On The Road Just Got A Little Easier

Travel Suitcase

Being in business was never going to be easy. You have to be a jack of all trades; one minute sorting out a complicated issue with a customer, the next making sure your taxes are filed correctly. But perhaps the most difficult challenge that any businessperson faces, no matter how experienced, is work-related travel.

Keeping your sanity on the road can be difficult, so here’s what to do to maintain your quality of life.

Find Out What You Love About Travel And Embrace It

Travel might seem like a chore: and usually, it is because it takes you away from your family. But the best way to deal with travel is to borrow a principle from karate. In karate, you don’t defeat your opponent by taking them on in a match of strength. Instead, you use their momentum and size to outwit and outfight them. The same principle applies when it comes to travel: use it as an opportunity to embrace what you love instead of fight against what you hate.

For instance, if you rarely get time to read, use your time sitting on a plane or train to delve into a novel you’ve always wanted to explore. Or if you love food, try sampling the delicacies in all the places you travel to. This will help make the experience seem more worthwhile.

Don’t Just Accept Any Old Accommodation

Most people who travel for business think that they have to take what they can get. But there’s a whole world of contractor accommodation out there, waiting to be snapped up. Modern accommodation designed for the travelling business person and their staff comes in a range of types, from regular accommodation to executive suites. Don’t just accept the first accommodation you find. Instead, search the area in which you’re staying for companies that offer things like landscape maintenance and 24-hour security.

Don’t Force Yourself To Socialize

Many people who travel for business often feel obliged to socialize when they arrive at their destination. But after a long journey, this is usually the last thing that either they or their body wants. Some people are energized by business trips and want to take advantage of every moment to hang out with colleagues and business associates. Many, though, struggle, to focus once the day is over. Don’t pressure yourself to spend all day and all night working and socializing. Retreat to your accommodation to recharge your batteries if you need to.

Get Used To The Idea Of Dining Alone

Unless you’re the James Bond of the business world, there’s a good chance that when you go on business trips, you’ll be dining alone. While this might be a bit of a shock to the system, to begin with – after all, you’re used to dining with other people – it’s something that you need to get used to. Learning to love your own company is an important part of travel. Plus you get to eat like a pig if you want and there’s nobody there to complain.

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Dr. Jade Marie Tomaszewski is a pathologist-in-training at McGill University, where she also did her degree in MSc Pathology. She obtained her medical degree (MD) from the University of the Philippines, after completing a BSc in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. In her (little) spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, curling up with a book and a large mug of tea, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. You can follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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