Business travel is a great way to strengthen your relationships, skillset, and position in your company. However, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. There are a lot of downsides to business travel that can discourage the most seasoned road warrior. Traveling for business can take a serious toll on your body and it can be tough to be away from the comforts of home. Rest assured, there are plenty of ways to offset the cons of traveling for business. By following these 4 helpful tips, you’ll be able to avoid the drawbacks of business travel and focus on all of the great things that can happen.
Not Enough Time
One of the biggest downsides of business travel is the time commitment. When you’re traveling for work, you’re signing up for meetings, dinners, conferences, and other unforeseen sessions. Not to mention the travel time itself to get to and from your destination. It can be tough to manage your current workload and responsibilities in addition to the purpose of your business trip. It can certainly be overwhelming to try and wear all of your usual hats. If you have a team that reports to you, make sure to delegate effectively to ensure your most important projects are being worked on. When on the road, make sure you have a setup that allows you to be productive. To be successful, you’ll need access to all of the files and documents that would put you in a position to thrive. Consider investing in a wireless travel router so that you always have access to reliable internet. If you have any hope of being effective on the road, you need to ensure you can stay connected to those back at HQ. If you need even more nifty gadgets, check out 6 of the most crucial ones for the business traveler.
Feeling Disconnected From Home
Arguably the biggest downside of business travel is the time spent away from loved ones. It can be extremely tough to be away from home and to miss out on the joys of everyday life. To help stay more connected, bring along pictures and keepsakes to remind you of home. Try to carve out time every day to call or FaceTime your family so you can hear about everything taking place back home. As mentioned in our guide for improving work/life balance consider having a standing call with your family to establish some type of routine and sense of normalcy. When you are at home, it’s critical to maximize your time with your family to ensure you’re getting your quality time in. Even if you’re tired and burnt out, try to push through and be present in the moment. If you’re looking to be more efficient with your time, consider hosting a large gathering, like a BBQ or party so you can see all of your family and friends in one swoop. Seeing the people you love most will lift your spirits and recharge you for your next business trip.
Not Leading a Healthy Lifestyle
Traveling for business can take a major toll on your health. It’s tough to maintain a normal routine when your surroundings are constantly changing Most business travelers put their work first and health second, but to perform to your full potential, you’ll need to make your health a priority. First things first, you need to make sure you’re eating right on the road. Traveling doesn’t give you an excuse to abandon your healthy habits and indulge in every gluttonous desire. Check out these quick and delicious tips to eating healthy on the road and you’ll find it’s much easier than you think to maintain a balanced diet. Packing healthy snacks and drinking water can make a huge difference! Exercise is also crucial to maintaining a healthy lifestyle on-the-go. By following these useful tips for staying in great shape while traveling, you can burn calories and relieve some stress in the process! In addition to eating right and exercising, the importance of getting good sleep cannot be overstated. Try to avoid red eyes and inconvenient flights that are going to disrupt your sleep cycle.
Spending Too Much Money
Depending on your company’s travel expense policy, you could end up spending more on the road than you would at home. Make sure to familiarize yourself with your company’s rules so there are no surprises at the end of your travels. Do your best to make reasonable choices so you’re not losing money on your trips. For a more detailed resource, check out our essential guide to travel expenses for business flyers.
While there are certainly some downsides to business travel, all can be minimized by following these simple tips. Thankfully, these nifty hacks can help you make the best of business travel!
