Home sweet home! That is what I say every time I get home from long-distance travelling. Not because I don’t like travelling and definitely not because I don’t like where I have been. No it is just because living out of a suitcase for too long is distressing and also travelling over many time zones stress your circadian cycles.
I have already been travelling long-distance to the west coast in US twice this fall and that is a time difference from Sweden at 9 hours. One more trip is planned. It doesn’t only split the time in my work but it does take some energy with the jetlag from such big time difference – both going there and also when coming back home.
As stress mentor I meet lots of business leaders and executives that say exactly the same thing. I usually ask them for their best tips on how to avoid to get all stressed out of all the travelling and I will list a few of their tips below.
- Prepare the week before with regular sleep and good food habits to make your body and mind be and feel at its best when you start your trip.
- Be physically active before and during the trip. Use the gym of the hotels you stay at and/or take morning walks/runs to keep fit. That will help you keep your brain clear and also help from getting muscle pain from to much sitting still during travelling and conferencing.
- Pack carefully. This is an issue that many of my clients have an opinion on. Some frequent flyers even have a separate wardrobe for travelling – they wash the clothes when they get home and put if back directly in the suitcase (or rather hang it in “the travelling area” that they have) and also directly fill up whatever consumables they usually bring. That will make them “travel ready” in no time and they know they don’t forget anything even though it might have been leaving in a rush.
- Set your watch at the local time of your destination as soon as you start your journey. Most people find that helpful because it sets your mind of what is coming – not at what has been.
- Be moderate with alcoholic beverages while travelling. Alcohol can be a great tranquilizer when feeling the stress during your journey. BUT it also works as a disturbance to your circadian systems. That is a delicate system involving many hormones that affect your wellbeing. If you disturb it with alcohol you will get more problems with jetlag and general wellbeing during your trip.
These are 5 proven tips from my clients. I can definitely relate to them myself. Can you? Are you a frequent flyer? What tip do you always use to make your travelling less stressed? Please share your ideas – I love to read your comments below.
To your success – and keep smiling!
