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It is brutal in many regards.
In terms of personal life, remember you can call friends and family while traveling in the evening and stay connected like that.
Eating out 3x/day can easily wreck havoc on your health. Be careful with what you eat.
Also, get a gym membership or use the hotel gym to take care of your body. It also helps your mind.
No silver bullets for this. It's such a hard thing to do. But people find a way to do it years on end.
I stayed at the beach last night so I went on a 2 mile walk this morning and do work out at the hotels.
As far as food, I try to stick to protein only dishes and really rarely eat fast food. I see where you can really gain some weight eating out. That was something I was cognizant of from the beginning.
I do call friends. I think it’s hearing that they miss me and I’m never around. I understand but it’s like no shit, how do you think I feel?
I decided to try to enjoy the cities I traveled to, so planned extra time for that. If I traveled near a weekend, I’d have my wife fly out to spend the weekend with me too. Often the hotel and my meals were covered by the company, so it was a small incremental cost for her to join. We did NYC, Chicago, D.C., San Diego and London like that. Would have done more if I’d gotten smart sooner!
I looked at it as an opportunity to see different places, meet a broader group of people, learn local stuff, etc. But I couldn’t have done it while my kids were still at home.
The biggest issue with traveling for work is that it's just not the same with it comes to your free time. Sure, your food is paid and perhaps you're gaming the system on per-diem (and definitely do that if you're not), but you don't have your family/friends, your home, your stuff, etc. You tend to also work longer days as you don't have much else to do. And worse, usually you're not in fun and exciting places.
Then there's the travel stress. Long days in airports, delayed/cancelled flights, getting up at 3am to make a 605am flight, dealing with security lines, long days driving, etc.
It takes a special type of person to have travel job. No doubt.
In a nutshell I would never travel almost every week again, that's for the young. I'd probably be looking for a different job, especially if I were in sales or something like that.
I agree on the working more part. I bring my laptop to dinner and work. I definitely work more. I’ve been trying to work on the plane so I can reduce my time when I land and get to my hotel.
I appreciate the responses shared. It makes me feel better than I’m not losing my mind with the amount of travel and struggling with it. I really enjoy my job and know this won’t last forever.
2000cs I tried to enjoy the destinations a bit even if it always felt like I was in either Atlanta or Chicago. It also definitely helps to have a spouse that can help keep the chores lined up at home.With my transition to a new role I don't travel at all anymore. Even my training travel has been cancelled and converted to on-line training.
rebekahb wroteI never work on airplanes; too many people looking. Early on I used to do crosswords and read all the industry rags on the plane, but never anything with confidential content. Then I wised up and started sleeping, and developed the ability to fall asleep before the wheels were up. Window seat was key.The places I go it’s not really worth it for my husband to go along. I have a conference on Amelia Island so he will join me for that. Mostly I travel Mon-Thur and he works so he can’t go along with me.
I agree on the working more part. I bring my laptop to dinner and work. I definitely work more. I’ve been trying to work on the plane so I can reduce my time when I land and get to my hotel.
I appreciate the responses shared. It makes me feel better than I’m not losing my mind with the amount of travel and struggling with it. I really enjoy my job and know this won’t last forever.
I also learned to schedule flights to meet my schedule (not the work schedule) and give me extra time at the destination if all worked according to schedule. I had a direct to D.C. in the morning (that was a regular destination) but it was often delayed, which could mean the meeting was delayed or canceled. So I started going the evening before, having a nice dinner, then doing something relaxing in the morning before the meeting. Similar in NYC. On the return, if I couldn’t get out in the afternoon, I would stay over because the late flights often were delayed or canceled. Again an opportunity for a relaxing evening, see a museum or whatever, and come home feeling good and not stressed. And if possible I would fly direct, one hop at most. Carry on only going out. Stuff like that that all made the travel easier.
2000cs wroteAll good stuff and I've done the same BUT a lot of companies/clients aren't willing to pay for those extra nights in hotels, rental cars, and related expenses. Then there's your personnel time. Going early or staying late by a day eats into your own time which you're not doing at your home location.I never work on airplanes; too many people looking. Early on I used to do crosswords and read all the industry rags on the plane, but never anything with confidential content. Then I wised up and started sleeping, and developed the ability to fall asleep before the wheels were up. Window seat was key.
I also learned to schedule flights to meet my schedule (not the work schedule) and give me extra time at the destination if all worked according to schedule. I had a direct to D.C. in the morning (that was a regular destination) but it was often delayed, which could mean the meeting was delayed or canceled. So I started going the evening before, having a nice dinner, then doing something relaxing in the morning before the meeting. Similar in NYC. On the return, if I couldn’t get out in the afternoon, I would stay over because the late flights often were delayed or canceled. Again an opportunity for a relaxing evening, see a museum or whatever, and come home feeling good and not stressed. And if possible I would fly direct, one hop at most. Carry on only going out. Stuff like that that all made the travel easier.
Most companies have little concern for travel stress or making things easier/better for staff.
But, at least my company had a good expense allotment/policy.. Unless one went crazy, travel audit never cared...
