Traveling for Work

Jenava

Hi ladies,
I'm considering a change of work that may have me traveling several times a week. Gulp. I know should this change come about I'll need to study up on the travel capsule posts (MaryK's is brilliant).

Anyone else do this? Any advice, warnings against pitfalls? If you do this, do you love it, hate it, love/hate it?

13 years ago

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Kyle

fern

Veteran

I am bumping this for you, Jenava.
I used to travel once or twice a month to do workshops, but that was a dozen years ago. How I wish I had YLF then - my professional wardrobe was lacking. I loved the work though & it was energizing to work in a new place.
No advice - I think the irregular/hotel sleeping does get harder with age, I'm not sure I'd be as ready for it now.

13 years ago

Classically Casual

Veteran

My challenge was falling asleep in new places. And I,m a person who needs a good night,s sleep. I was able to train myself to fall asleep with the tv on...it became the familiar thing from hotel to hotel, and also drowned out any outside noises. Otherwise, there are so many pros and cons to travel for work, I think it comes down to the individual situation and person.

13 years ago

Nadya

Veteran

I used to travel a lot for work. Some advice in no particular order:
1. Find a pair of super comfy shoes that work with skirts and slacks (or whatever you wear for work.) Wear those and bring your exercise shoes (if needed). Simplifies packing enormously. I had a brown pair and a black pair and every business trip capsule worked with one of these.
2. To help stay healthy on the road I aimed for eight servings of fruits and vegetables each day. By just tracking that, the rest of my eating sort of fell into a good place.
3. Enjoy your time alone! Order room service, put on a favorite movie or trashy tv show and enjoy. I had certain TV shows I only watched on the road, like Biggest Loser.
4. Bring herb tea to have in your room at night. Often you can heat up water in your room, and being able to make a cup of non-caffeinated tea at night was cozy.
5. If you carry a laptop bag and a suitcase, pair down your purse essentials to a small purse that fits in the laptop bag. That's the one you can grab to go to lunch, dinner etc.
6. I enjoyed clothes shopping when I was on the road because I didn't feel guilty for leaving my family alone and it got me out of the hotel room.

OK, I'll stop now. Let us know if you do this and how it goes!

13 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

How far would you be traveling? By plane or driving?

I say I lived in AZ for two years, but actually I commuted there for two years. Home on Friday night, out Sunday morning.

My #1, forget any kind of bag you have to carry. It's all got to be on wheels.

#2, make sure you can wheel your case down the aisle of an airplane, that it's not too wide.

#3, I had a small cosmetic bag with a tube of aspirin, cardboard nail file, bandaids, thin compact mirror, tiny tube of lotion (I liked Prescriptives Flight Cream, you could also use it as a moisturizing mask), semi-lipstick. Something that works as a blusher and lip color is awful helpful for waking up your looks.

#4, Don't carry big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, etc. Frankly, I buy stuff like that when I get to the destination. All that security fuss and leakage.

#5, Always be ready to fire up your laptop and take off your shoes for security. So don't bury your laptop in a sleeve in a bag, etc.

#6, They make these fleece plane "sleeping bags" which I found made flights a lot comfier. Also, foot stools; I personally prefer to prop my feet up a bit when I have to sit a long time like that.

#7, I tried taking those homeopathic flight meds to ward off plane germs just once - only time I've ever gotten swollen ankles from flying.

#8, Don't pack clothes for all possibilities. In case of freak rainstorms, just be prepared to go into a drugstore and buy some wonky galoshes.

#9, Small plastic hairbrush that you can also use as a scalp massager to wash your hair is handy.

#10, Travel perfume free.

It can be really hard to have a personal life when you're always on the road. If you're outgoing, you can make friends and dine with them whenever you're in town... but you know, you won't be taking any classes and spending time with friends like on Friends.

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

jenava, are you a light traveler in general, or do you like variety? what is the work situation dress code?

i bring a cashmere wrap to bundle up im the plane to keep warm, i pack athletic socks in my carry on and swap for my shoes as soon as i am seated. i bring high protein snack like nuts and some sugar/carb like dried fruit for energy. i would use the protein bars but i don't like the taste.

like rachy, i am prepared to buy anything i forgot, including target wellies(!) at my destination in exchange for carrying on luggage.

13 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

For about three years, I traveled to Nunavut about once every 4-6 weeks as well as at least half a dozen other trips. Initially I found it a nice break but after a while I started noticing that things at home were not getting done. I ended up removing a number of the gardens I had loved because they seemed to get out of control while i was busy in spring.

On the plus side, I was flying enough that I could fall asleep on a plane before it even finished take-off.

13 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I did this for about a year when I was in my early 20s. It was quite physically demanding. I traveled the trade show circuit, and was responsible for setting up the booth and working it, standing on my feet all day for days on end -- in high heels and a suit. I don't think I could do that at my age now (47). But, on the plus side, I got to see a lot of the country. And all in all, it was a blast and I have no regrets.

Way back then, brooches were "in." So I made it a hobby to acquire a new pin at every destination. I still have many of these pins. Each one has a story.

13 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Hi guys! Sorry to post and run. There's only a 50/50 chance I'd take this job, so not sure I'll need this advice, but it IS helpful to learn about the various experiences. This would be a consulting job. Each week I'd leave Sunday night and fly home Thursdays, worst case.

I already am a light traveler, but obviously I don't travel every week! So I think I'd need to travel capsulize my entire workwear wardrobe if I did this! The exercise/food issue is one of my biggest concerns. I think the last year at work has wreaked havoc on my healthy habits because of stress and I would want to make sure that I could incorporate healthy habits into this travel life-style.

13 years ago

bj1111

Veteran

the packing aside, how do you feel about ths opportunity? will you be leaving nordies?

the life of a consultant sounds so glamorous with all the travel. i'm not sure i can handle so much travel any more, but i can live vicariously thru you!

the diet is harder to deal with than exercise. sometimes, i just want oatmeal for breakfast, without it costing an arm and 40 minutes wait for room service!

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

Mr. K travels a lot and he manages. He has a basic work "uniform" of jeans and shirts and can pack in like 5 minutes. He generally stays in places like Embassy Suites where he has at least rudimentary kitchen facilities, and he tends to buy basic groceries and feed himself rather than eat out for every meal. Even a frozen meal is often healthier than most restaurant or takeout meals. He gets cereal and milk and fruit and eats that for his breakfasts, he goes out to lunch with colleagues, and then has a small dinner in his room.

He collects a refrigerator magnet from each destination and at this point we have so many they outgrew the fridge and are now on the kitchen ceiling, which we painted with magnetic paint!

13 years ago

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

OK, I am NOT painting the ceiling with magnet paint! And I highly doubt my ability to pack in five minutes...

How I feel about the opportunity: VERY mixed feelings. Very. It's complicated.

MaryK, it's good to hear from someone who's family is making it work. (-:

13 years ago

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I travelled internationally 50-75% of the time during one of my jobs. It lasted a few years. It nearly killed me. We're talking major distances and time changes, living in hotels. How far would you be traveling? I believe you should ask for a substantial raise for a job like this. Because it will take its toll on your health (physical, mental, emotional), and you will need to spend extra money on services because you no longer have your own time to do them. For example, you will need more housekeeping services to make up for all that time you're not at home.

I always checked my luggage. But I also was allowed to fly first class, so my bags were delivered first and fast. Packing light was not my biggest concern. I just brought along different skirt and pants suits. It was in the late 90s when I traveled, before 9-11s gift of heightened security and the poor economy of the 00s -- does anyone even fly first class any more?

13 years ago

Anonymous

I do travel a lot for work. I'd say a minimum of a week a month. Traveling is demanding, especially if you do not control your own schedule. I do have some control but sometimes I have no choice. Traveling can be demanding on family time and not the best job for a family with small kids. I did it when little Zap was a baby, but I had my family living literally 3 blocks away from me.

As far as packing, etc, it all depends on dress code. For the more traditional business casual, I pack 5 complete outfits and 1-2 pairs of shoes max. I do pack a pair of jeans for nightime, that I wear with whatever tops I packed. I do check my luggage.

I have managed to find local assignments that should keep me grounded for the next 2 years. I'm really happy about that.

13 years ago

Anonymous

and diet is a big problem. I just came back and gained back the two pounds I lost, AGAIN... The people in this team eat, a lot.

13 years ago

Kyle

Veteran

I travel a lot for business and agree with everything that has been said. Nadya's tips are very much in line with my thinking. It's a grueling lifestyle and if I had a choice I would not travel for business. It's demanding physically, emotionally and mentally. Much of it is dependent on your attitude and how you approach it in that regard. When I travel I work all day (sometimes with clients or at a trade show) and then there is socializing at night, which usually means eating out. Then back at it again the next day, often with time zones that don't work in your favor. It is hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle but certainly not impossible. I have lots of tricks that work for me and I'd be happy to share if you decide to make this change, Jenava.

13 years ago

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