Have you ever been stranded at an airport on a Friday night due to endless delays?
Have you ever awakened in a hotel room to discover that you need a minute to recall which hotel and in what city? Have you ever been too tired on the weekends to do anything and before you know it, it is Monday morning and you are off to the airport headed for another location?
I know I am dating myself here, but I often hum a song made popular by Peter, Paul, and Mary as I’m on my way out the door. I’m sure you are familiar with it – “I’m leaving on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again.”
In order to maintain my enthusiasm for the work I love, I know that I have to find ways to make traveling physically, emotionally and mentally effortless.
I’d like to share a few traveling tips that have worked for me:
Packing
The biggest challenge is not to not over-pack which I used to do. Eventually I discovered how practical sweater sets were. They are light and easy to pack.
- Color - when traveling 2 or 3 consecutive weeks, I find having weekly color themes quite useful. One week black, the next week blue, etc.
- Shoes – I understand and appreciate that some women love to wear heels when they train, I am just not one of them. I prefer comfort. The heels look good they just don’t feel good at the end of the day. I think it’s important to be comfortable when teaching.
Diet & Exercise
This has been my biggest challenge and the most difficult to be consistent with while on the road. Nevertheless ten pounds later, I knew it was time to be proactive. It was no longer cost-effective to have a gym membership because I was rarely home to use it. However, most hotels have a fitness room – I just have to make sure to use it. I also invested in an exercise machine to use at home during my work-at-home weeks. I can’t say it is 100% effective but it is working better than doing nothing at all. Let’s just say it is not collecting dust!
Considering that I love to eat, food is a major challenge when on the road. So instead of partaking in those delicious danishes that are often served for breakfast, I pack oatmeal and add that to some fruit for breakfast. It is also useful to scout out your destination in advance and research the restaurants that suit your dietary needs. Also inquire if the hotel has a refrigerator; oftentimes they will provide one at no additional cost.
Take Time for You
After 2 or 3 weeks on the road I find it necessary to indulge myself in a much-needed massage. It is relaxing and is a great stress reliever.
After my first year as a traveling trainer I began to notice that I was losing touch with my family and friends and special occasions and events were passing me by. I was beginning to feel isolated and I realized I had to do something to take control over my time. The solution was to purchase a wall calendar. I never realized how a simple calendar on the wall could become such an effective tool to reactivate my social life. I can now plug in dates with family and friends and make plans for special events weeks in advance.
And what about those Friday nights at the airport waiting to go home? This is definitely one of those times when we must take care of our mental and emotional well being. Rather than getting ourselves worked up about something (for the most part we can’t control) why not just turn it around and perhaps use that time to catch up with people either on the phone or through email? Perhaps you can just use the time to be quiet and read a novel, listen to music or watch a movie if you travel with a DVD player. The bottom line is we must find a way to take a breath, relax and let it go.
Finally, don’t forget the importance of a vacation, a time out. I have met so many people who say they are just too busy working to take a vacation. I used to be one of them until I became ill and realized that the work continued without me. After a vacation, you return to your duties refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to go.
I don’t travel as much as I used to, but now when I do it is an effortless experience. I hope that some of my experiences and tips will be as useful to you as they have been for me in striking a healthy balance. And since there are so many of us who are out there doing this wonderful work and traveling while we do it, I would love to hear about your experiences and any tips that you can offer as we all strive for this balance in our lives.
Also, for more great travel tips, check out Lynne’s Top Ten Travel Survival Tips for Trainers.
Linda
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