People who don't travel for business often think business travel
must be exciting. You've probably heard comments to that effect from
your co-workers, non-traveling teammates, friends and maybe even your
spouse.
"Airports are exciting places." "I bet you get to see lots of interesting places." "How wonderful: a different restaurant every night." To the non-road warrior, business travel is an existence filled with pricy expense account meals, boutique accommodations and an ever-changing view of big cities and bright lights.
If you are the road warrior, you know that reality is a little less exciting. For most frequent business travelers, even the fanciest hotel rooms begin to look alike, and your own bed at home looms large in your fantasies. Restaurant meals also tend toward same-ness, making a home-cooked dinner seem delicious. Airports become crowded mazes and flight schedules are often little more than wishful thinking. When you're on the road a lot, what you really want is your own space: your own family, your own bathrobe, your own comfy chair, your own people, pets and stuff.
Yet for many people, business travel is a non-negotiable part of life. So how do you keep your chin up and your thinking positive?
Before I became a success coach, I spent many years in corporate sales, and I was one of those weary road warriors. I struggled with the blur of cities and airports and the inevitable toll that being on the road and away from home took on my perspective. I was determined to find a way to make the best of my business travel, so that, if it didn't quite live up to the glowing fantasies of my non-traveling friends, it didn't leave me lacking energy and enthusiasm.
The tricks and strategies I created for myself helped me escape the frequent flyer funk. So if you've got a busy travel schedule coming up, here are some ideas to help you enjoy the journey and not just the destination.
1 Take action to keep your mood positive. Staying afloat mentally doesn't happen by accident. Be proactive and give yourself small treats to look forward to that you can enjoy on the journey. Some people save books or magazines that they're looking forward to reading for their time in the airport, on the plane or in the hotel. Or, download some new upbeat or relaxing music to your MP3 player to enjoy on the road. You might even want to download an inspirational guided meditation to enjoy at the end of the day or while you're on the plane to focus your thoughts on positive intentions.
2 Make some "me" time every day. It's easy to get swept into morning-until-night activity on the road, but that will leave you wrung out and depleted. Instead, carve out at least 30 minutes of time for yourself (and I don't mean reviewing emails). Take a walk around the block where your hotel is located. Sink into a comfy chair and read or listen to music. Meditate. Do a light workout or run through some Yoga moves in your room to loosen stiff muscles and get rid of jitters. Carry some herbal tea with you and treat yourself to a hot, fragrant cup.
3 Don't fill every moment with work. It can be tempting to try to be "productive" every waking moment when you're on the road, but resist the temptation. That road leads to burnout. You don't have to read a business book on the plane or spend the entire time you're in the airport answering emails. Odds are, you're already working a longer-than-usual day with meetings and transportation hassles, so allow yourself some breathing space during the in-between times.
4 Try to do at least one thing that takes in some "local color." Yes, you can eat in the same chain restaurants anywhere in the world and get coffee at Starbucks from Boise to Beijing. But if you default to what's familiar, business travel takes on a mind-numbing sameness. Instead, try to do at least one "local" thing each day. Opt for the local coffee house over the national chain. Ask the hotel staff for a good local restaurant that's not a franchise. Pop into a one-of-a-kind gift shop, independent bookstore or a retailer you don't have back home. Look for a restaurant, bar of coffeehouse with live music and enjoy the vibe.
5 Create your own "travel book" to keep your spirits high. I'm a visual person, and I found that when I put together my own journal of magazine photos, snapshots and inspirational quotes and carried it with me, my travels became more pleasant and less stressful. Best of all, your travel book won't weigh down your luggage. Select a slim, blank journal and keep it handy, along with a nice pen and a glue stick. When you find a magazine image that lifts your spirits or read a quote that soothes your soul, add it to your journal. Then leave yourself a few quiet minutes before you go to bed to page through your journal, and let it wash away the day's stress. (If you're the digital type, you can create your own scrapbook in PowerPoint or Word.)
You'll be amazed how much better you'll feel about your time on the road when you set your own inner agenda. Set an intention to reframe your travel time to make it refreshing, renewing and enjoyable, and you might be surprised at the results!
"Airports are exciting places." "I bet you get to see lots of interesting places." "How wonderful: a different restaurant every night." To the non-road warrior, business travel is an existence filled with pricy expense account meals, boutique accommodations and an ever-changing view of big cities and bright lights.
If you are the road warrior, you know that reality is a little less exciting. For most frequent business travelers, even the fanciest hotel rooms begin to look alike, and your own bed at home looms large in your fantasies. Restaurant meals also tend toward same-ness, making a home-cooked dinner seem delicious. Airports become crowded mazes and flight schedules are often little more than wishful thinking. When you're on the road a lot, what you really want is your own space: your own family, your own bathrobe, your own comfy chair, your own people, pets and stuff.
Yet for many people, business travel is a non-negotiable part of life. So how do you keep your chin up and your thinking positive?
Before I became a success coach, I spent many years in corporate sales, and I was one of those weary road warriors. I struggled with the blur of cities and airports and the inevitable toll that being on the road and away from home took on my perspective. I was determined to find a way to make the best of my business travel, so that, if it didn't quite live up to the glowing fantasies of my non-traveling friends, it didn't leave me lacking energy and enthusiasm.
The tricks and strategies I created for myself helped me escape the frequent flyer funk. So if you've got a busy travel schedule coming up, here are some ideas to help you enjoy the journey and not just the destination.
1 Take action to keep your mood positive. Staying afloat mentally doesn't happen by accident. Be proactive and give yourself small treats to look forward to that you can enjoy on the journey. Some people save books or magazines that they're looking forward to reading for their time in the airport, on the plane or in the hotel. Or, download some new upbeat or relaxing music to your MP3 player to enjoy on the road. You might even want to download an inspirational guided meditation to enjoy at the end of the day or while you're on the plane to focus your thoughts on positive intentions.
2 Make some "me" time every day. It's easy to get swept into morning-until-night activity on the road, but that will leave you wrung out and depleted. Instead, carve out at least 30 minutes of time for yourself (and I don't mean reviewing emails). Take a walk around the block where your hotel is located. Sink into a comfy chair and read or listen to music. Meditate. Do a light workout or run through some Yoga moves in your room to loosen stiff muscles and get rid of jitters. Carry some herbal tea with you and treat yourself to a hot, fragrant cup.
3 Don't fill every moment with work. It can be tempting to try to be "productive" every waking moment when you're on the road, but resist the temptation. That road leads to burnout. You don't have to read a business book on the plane or spend the entire time you're in the airport answering emails. Odds are, you're already working a longer-than-usual day with meetings and transportation hassles, so allow yourself some breathing space during the in-between times.
4 Try to do at least one thing that takes in some "local color." Yes, you can eat in the same chain restaurants anywhere in the world and get coffee at Starbucks from Boise to Beijing. But if you default to what's familiar, business travel takes on a mind-numbing sameness. Instead, try to do at least one "local" thing each day. Opt for the local coffee house over the national chain. Ask the hotel staff for a good local restaurant that's not a franchise. Pop into a one-of-a-kind gift shop, independent bookstore or a retailer you don't have back home. Look for a restaurant, bar of coffeehouse with live music and enjoy the vibe.
5 Create your own "travel book" to keep your spirits high. I'm a visual person, and I found that when I put together my own journal of magazine photos, snapshots and inspirational quotes and carried it with me, my travels became more pleasant and less stressful. Best of all, your travel book won't weigh down your luggage. Select a slim, blank journal and keep it handy, along with a nice pen and a glue stick. When you find a magazine image that lifts your spirits or read a quote that soothes your soul, add it to your journal. Then leave yourself a few quiet minutes before you go to bed to page through your journal, and let it wash away the day's stress. (If you're the digital type, you can create your own scrapbook in PowerPoint or Word.)
You'll be amazed how much better you'll feel about your time on the road when you set your own inner agenda. Set an intention to reframe your travel time to make it refreshing, renewing and enjoyable, and you might be surprised at the results!
Faith Monson is a Success Consultant who works with
entrepreneurs, designers, retailers and sales-driven organizations. She
makes people and businesses better by daring them to be great and
helping them to reach their full potential.
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