Mental health is important for everyone, regardless of who you are. However, if you travel for work, your mental health needs become more important than ever. With the constant coming and going and lack of a consistent schedule, it is easy to prioritize everything else in life. Make a change to how you travel and care for your mental health by implementing these suggestions today.
Find a Restive Place To Stay
If you feel unsettled when you arrive at a hotel, opt for something different for your extended stay accommodations. Look for masterfully designed apartments with all the amenities of home life waiting for you in your destination city.
Extended stay locations offer a full kitchen to store and prepare food and avoid the spiral of eating out while allowing you to relax in comfort. Additionally, there is ample space to spread out, practice mindful yoga, and hang your clothing in the closet so it feels like home. These seemingly minor details lend themselves to better mental health when you feel organized and comfortable in the place you will be spending extended time in while traveling for business.
Maintain Ties To Your Support Structures
Many people attuned to mental health and wellness practices understand that support systems are essential, no matter where you are. If you have a therapist you see on a regular schedule that is unfortunately interrupted by work travel, inquire whether they offer telehealth options for care. If so, you are only a Zoom call away from support services when you need them or can avoid missing regularly scheduled care through this option.
If you have experienced dependency or addiction in your life and seek the care and camaraderie of frequent meetings, you can still attend one in almost any city you find yourself in for work. Search online for “AA meetings near me” or any other support group you subscribe to. Just because you are away from home does not mean you need to be away from essential support.
Book Travel Early in the Day
One thing that brings dread to many travelers is the potential for a delay in their flight schedule. Many factors can cause a late flight and ensuing missed connections later in the day that can wreak havoc on your schedule and mental health. Avoid the potential for problems by booking the first flight or train of the day. While this is not a guaranteed fix to what might become an issue later in the day, it is a proactive effort to mitigate stress and keep you on schedule.
Watch this informative video to learn tips to help you avoid airline delays and unnecessary stress.
Taking care of your emotional health and mental wellness is more important than ever with all of the noise in the world. It is even more consequential if your work requires traveling away from home. When you are on the road, take meaningful steps to find quiet and comfortable places to stay that will remind you of home and give you the space to work, rest, and reset. Remember to connect with your essential resources and get the support you need wherever you are. Plan well and prioritize your needs to make your business travel experiences something to look forward to.