Travelling on business? How to feel more at home wherever you are
Written by Editorial Team - 1st Apr 2020
Travelling on business? How to feel more at home wherever you are. Ask anyone who often travels for business: it’s not always as glamorous as it appears. Sure, there will be times when you enjoy sightseeing and making new friends, but for some trips, you’ll also have less desirable experiences.
Picture this; you’re miles away from your loved ones and can’t seem to find someone to speak to freely due to language barriers. The excitement can wear off quickly and feelings of loneliness might start to creep in.
The good thing is you can overcome homesickness and make yourself feel more at home at your new destination by implementing the following seven tips.
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Pack photos of your loved ones
Before heading out for your business trip, print and pack a few pictures of your family, friends, or even pets. When you’re at your new place, place them in your house’s living area or bedroom and use them as beautiful reminders of these loved ones. Seeing them every time you’re back in your apartment will help you stay grounded as you wait to reunite with them.
Cook your favorite meals
When traveling out for business, the temptation to eat out will almost always be there, especially if you’ve found some good company in your new city. Unfortunately, this habit not only drains your wallet but can also prove quite costly to your health and weight. If you’re renting a furnished corporate apartment, why not take advantage of the fully equipped kitchen to cook up a healthy meal just like the ones you would make at home? Alternatively, if you’re staying at a hotel with a kitchenette, take advantage of the facility to prepare healthier foods that remind you of home.
Stay in touch with family and friends
Travel, especially international travel, can significantly interfere with your usual communication routine. In some cases, the changing time zones are to blame while in others, the high calls tariffs make communication expensive.
Even then, it’s important to know that good relationships with your loved ones are more important than any form of work or business. Create time to talk and update your friends and family about your experiences at the new place. Use services like Skype and FaceTime for more personal face-to-face chats and also don’t forget to share photos and videos of your adventures on WhatsApp or similar messaging platforms. You will find a lot of comfort from these kinds of exchanges, which is what you need to cope with homesickness.
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Go outdoors and sightsee
If you’re like most business travelers, every trip comes packed with agendas and long to-do lists. However, amidst all the work and commitments, take some time off to explore the new destination. And no, you don’t have to set aside a lot of time for sightseeing, but make it a priority to visit at least a few tourist destinations before your time at the new place is over. This should help to distract you from missing home and probably cheer you up, which is vital in improving your productivity and results.
Tag someone along
Bringing a loved one with you on a business trip is another highly effective way to feel more at home and to beat loneliness. Your companion could be your spouse, friend, or teenage kid. Of course, this will depend on a few factors including your budget, company policies, and the availability of whoever you’d like to tag along.
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Keep fit
Exercising offers countless benefits to the body including clearing up your mind and enhancing your mental health. It also helps you release more endorphins, otherwise known as ‘feel-good’ hormones. If traveling and work are taking a toll on you, an excellent way to get relief is to hit the gym or engage in physical activities like biking, swimming, or jogging. Regardless of how busy your days are, take some time off and dedicate it to staying fit. You can also try meditation if that works better for you.
Get enough sleep
One mistake that most business travelers make while on the road is to deprive themselves of enough sleep. For some, this is caused by their never-ending work commitments as they try to beat deadlines. For others, it is their indulgence in fun and other non-work related activities. Whichever your reason might be, never take sleeping time for granted. Getting sufficient sleep that lasts roughly 7-8 hours each day is one of the best favors you can give your body. Plan properly and stick to your schedule by eliminating any form of distractions that may come your way.
How do you cope with homesickness when traveling for business? We’d love to hear your feedback.
