Travelling the world is what most people dream about, but it’s also stressful. Add full-time working to that equation and you get the recipe for sleepless nights and worried travellers.
Sure, it’s awesome to get to see new parts of the world while someone else foots the bill, but all those little things that annoy you while you’re travelling for pleasure are a thousand times worse when you’re travelling for business. Everything is much more stressful when you’re on a business trip, from poor WiFi to delayed flights.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, and we’ll tell you why in this detailed guide on eight ways to reduce the stress of frequent business travel!
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is the simplest thing you can do that will help reduce the stress of frequent business travel. If you plan out everything a week in advance, you will have fewer things to worry about on the days leading up to your trip. Try to finish all your shopping a week earlier, check that everything is booked and confirmed, and start doing laundry so you’re not stuck with wet clothes at the airport.
Start making a list of everything you’re worried about a week or even two before your trip, and try to check things off as you’re getting closer to the date. Call the hotel and ask about WiFi – it’s better to know in advance what to expect than to arrive at the hotel and realize you need to find a Starbucks ASAP.
Wear Comfy Clothes While You Travel
Business travellers are usually given away at the airport by their attire. Shirts and suits scream business travellers, but do you really need to wear them? Unless you’re heading to a meeting as soon as you land, why not wear something comfortable instead? You will feel a lot better during the flight and feeling good tends to help lower your stress levels. Wear your favourite tracksuit or leggings – you’re the only one who cares what you look like on the flight.
Use Helpful Apps And Services
We live in a digital age and there are countless apps and services that can make your life easier. One of the best such apps for business travellers is DUFL – a luggage shipping service that sort of functions as a travel closet. You send them your clothes and bags, and you never have to do your own packing again.
DUFL is a subscription service that gives you access to a virtual closet. You pick out the outfits you want for your business trip, and the company packs them and ships them to your destination. It’s easy to use, reliable, and it reduces the number of things you need to stress about on your business trips!
The best thing about using this service is that you will shorten the amount of time you spend at the airport. You can leave home with all your essentials in a nice backpack for business travel, and everything else will be waiting for you at the hotel. Compare that feeling to the stress of finding out that your luggage somehow arrived in Japan instead of Germany.
Check-In Online Whenever Possible
Online check-in usually has an extra fee, but it’s worth every penny. Instead of arriving at the airport three hours earlier just to check-in and sit in the lounge, you can check-in online and have more time for yourself. If you combine online check-in with a luggage delivery service, you can breeze through the airport in no time!
Don’t Waste Downtime
Whether it’s a layover or an hour you have between meetings – be very careful how you use any downtime you have on your business trips. If you have a mammoth pile of work, use the downtime to get ahead and make it easier for your future self. But if you don’t necessarily need to work you can use downtime to nap, do some shopping, or just sit and disconnect from everything for a little while.
Just make sure that you’re using it in a way that’s beneficial for you and your wellbeing and not just sitting around and stressing because something is not going the way you planned.
Business travellers often lose hours to stress, whether it’s because of a delayed flight, bad cell service, or lost luggage. If you’re in such a situation, just try to make the most of it. Dealing with a delayed flight? Use the time to catch up on work or go do some yoga in the lounge, whatever helps you feel better and less stressed.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep every night is a pipe dream for most people, but it’s the one thing that can really help alleviate stress. Especially when you are travelling long distances and have just endured one of those long haul flights.
Try to prioritize sleep while you are travelling for business and you might find that you’re less stressed while you’re away. Skip the late dinner with colleagues you don’t like, and reply to that late email early next morning – waking up rested and refreshed will not just reduce your stress levels, but also increase your productivity the next day.
Don’t Skip Meals
Proper nutrition is just as important as a good night’s sleep when it comes to reducing stress levels. Sadly, it’s also the first thing we tend to sacrifice on business trips. Who needs breakfast when you can have three cups of coffee while you catch up on your emails?
You. You need breakfast, lunch, dinner, and some snacks in between, otherwise, you’re going to be hangry the entire day. Everything is harder when you are hungry, from communicating with people who get on your nerves to focusing on a rather challenging task. Your body and brain need fuel to function and that fuel should come in the form of a nice meal and not your third iced coffee of the day. It’s just easier to do things when you’re full and satisfied, so naturally, you feel less stressed.
Make Time For Yourself
Just because you’re on a business trip doesn’t mean you need to work 24/7. It’s important that you make time to do the things you enjoy even while you’re travelling for business. Do your skincare in the evening, read your favourite book before you go to bed, or check out that pottery class that you read about. No matter what it is, if it helps you relax and it doesn’t take more than a couple of hours, you can find time for it even on business trips!
Author’s Bio: Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases, and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn’t know about travel, ain’t worth knowing!
