Whether you’re jet-setting around the world every week or making a few train trips out of town here and there, you’ll know that business travel can be exhausting and stressful at the best of times. There’s almost always an early morning start involved, you never quite get the same quality of sleep as you do at home and if you’re gone for a few days or more you’ll no doubt be missing friends and family.
However, for many jobs, business travel is an essential part of the role that can’t be avoided. So if you find yourself struggling to enjoy your time away, it’s time to change some habits and make the most of a new place. Here’s some top tips on how to do it:
Take care of yourself
With the rush of making it to the train or plane or having a busy day of meetings without much of a break, it’s easy to neglect your own health and wellness in favour of convenience. Where possible, try and plan ahead so you can keep yourself well-rested, nourished, hydrated and active. You don’t have to achieve all of these in one go – we aren’t superheroes after all – but small things will add up to big benefits. Why not pack a healthy snack and a large bottle of water to keep you alert? Or bring a sleeping mask and ear plugs if you know you’re not going to sleep well? And maybe throw in the gym shoes for a walk around the block first thing in the morning? Whether you do one of these or more, it’s important to keep your health in check while away.
Take a back seat
Regularly booking flights, train tickets or hotels for your business trips can be a real hassle and it can be a shock to see how the prices quickly add up. So why not let technology do the hard work for you? Apps like Tripit can track and manage all the details of your business trip from your flight information to your full itinerary. You needn’t be worrying about finances either if you’re sure to use comparison sites to scour the internet for the cheapest deals for travel and accommodation. These will quickly and easily save you and your business money at just the click of a mouse. If you’re feeling philanthropic or keen to do some CSR for your company, you’ll find that some comparison sites also raise money for charity as you purchase your travel too. What better way to make the most of your trip away than helping out a great cause?
Try and plan for some me time
Finally, one of the most important things to do on business travel is squeeze in some me time to relax and unwind. Whether it’s flying back a day later on a weekend so you can see the sights of the city you’re visiting in person, rather than just through the plane window, or letting yourself enjoy a bath for an hour at the end of the day instead of trying to do some extra work. The downtime can only do you good both mentally and physically and doesn’t need to be expensive – many cities have free walking tours or weeknight meal out offers, after all. The work isn’t going anywhere, so make sure you can enjoy your time to yourself – it will stop you resenting going away.
While it can be tough to do all of these tips on some business trips, it’s easy to at least incorporate a couple of them. Start by booking your hotel through Give as you Live or packing in the gym shoes with your luggage and building up from there. Over time, you’ll almost certainly feel the stress levels lowering and your alertness and happiness rising. Good luck and safe travels. 
This article comes courtesy of Give as you Live, the shopping and fundraising website.
