In 2018 alone, around eight million Brits took business trips from the UK. The same year, there were approximately 6.6 work trips taken to the UK. This is a high number considering that a recent survey of 500 frequent business travelers revealed that work trips can take their toll on mental well-being. More precisely, one in every five people surveyed said that business travel negatively impacts their mental state and productivity. Lack of sleep and exercise, bad eating habits, and being away from family and friends are just some of the problems experienced by those who travel for work. Luckily, there are a few things we can do to make business travel easier on our mental health.
Plan in Advance
Don’t fly by the seat of your pants. Instead, plan your schedule and research your destination. If you don’t have a team member who sets up your trips, be sure to double-check your hotel and car rental reservations. Also, work out how long it will take you to get from one area of your destination city to another. And remember, stacking your meetings can save you valuable travel time.
Remember that it’s better to be at the airport too early than too late. Avoid stress by giving yourself plenty of time for check in and passing security. Once you are at your gate, find a comfortable coffee shop where you can relax or catch up on a bit of work before your flight.
Organize Some Downtime
Spending too much time in hotel rooms can give you cabin fever. Once at your destination, try to put some time aside to explore your surroundings. Take a look at some online travel guides to find out about the activities in your area of the city.
Instead of organizing a business meeting, perhaps you could take your client out to dinner. Alternatively, why not invite some of the colleagues you don’t normally get to see for a meal. This won’t just give you all a chance to decompress, but might just result in a fresh perspective on that old business deal.
Say No to Jet Lag
If you are traveling a substantial distance, time zone changes, insufficient sleep and strange hotel rooms can all affect your energy levels. To avoid jet lag, get plenty of sleep before your trip and drink a lot of water during your journey. In addition, wear comfortable clothes on the plane and don’t forget to bring a moisturizer, as your skin dries out during flights due to the low humidity levels on planes.
To help yourself acclimatize to the new time zone, consider taking a natural sleep aid, such as melatonin. Naturally produced by the body, melatonin can help you sleep at times when you wouldn’t normally be resting. Magnesium supplements and meals packed with magnesium can also ease the symptoms of jet lag by helping you reestablish your sleep-wake pattern.
