Busy Travel Schedule Tips provided by Mom With a Map staff writer
Being a busy parent is hard enough but traveling for work often creates another layer of stress for you and your family. While business travel can be an exciting and a rewarding experience, it may be more difficult to do when you have a family.
If you’re struggling with a busy travel schedule, then you’re in the right place to learn more.
Review some tips for managing life and a busy travel schedule so you can find more balance and not have to make too many sacrifices along the way.
Get Organized
One of the most useful ways to manage life and a busy travel schedule is to get and stay organized. Make sure you know where you’re going next, have your travel booked in advance, and have a clear itinerary to follow.
Plan ahead and create and follow lists so you know what’s upcoming and what you may need to rearrange or solidify before you depart. It may also help to book details using a travel consultant.
Meal Plan in Advance
You’re going to want to make sure your family is well-fed while you’re away and when you get home at the end of the week, or on the weekends. Use the time you do have at home to grocery shop and meal plan.
One easy and convenient way to keep up is to have your family or spouse pull out the slow cooker while you’re gone. This way they can put in the ingredients and set it, and forget it. For example, this slow cooker recipe for pot roast is the perfect example of a delicious meal that can be quickly thrown together.
Update Your Wardrobe
Another tip for managing life and a busy travel schedule is to update your wardrobe. Make sure that you have all the necessary items you need so you can layer and mix and match your clothes and pack light. It’ll make packing each week a lot less of a hassle and less time-consuming when you have the right clothing pieces and shoes to bring with you. All you may have to do then is return home on the weekends, wash everything, and then repack it.
Ask for & Enlist Help
You also can’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you need it as a traveling parent. Arrange any rides or babysitters you’ll need ahead of time and confirm schedules so that you don’t have to worry about these details while you’re away.
Speak up and let others know what you need and how they can help you while you’re away and, more than likely, they’ll be happy to lend a hand. Be sure to leave emergency contact information and any other names or numbers the people helping you out will need.
Ramp up Your Self-Care
You may be slacking in the area of self-care if you are a parent and travel for work a lot. However, this is the time to ramp it up and commit to doing even more of it for the best results. You must take good care of yourself and put your health and well-being first if you’re going to have natural energy and avoid getting sick all the time.
Rethink going out for happy hour on a business trip and choose to read a book and go to bed early instead. You’ll thank yourself in the morning and will feel great when you’re well-rested. Also, find ways to focus on your health while you’re away such as using the hotel gym, packing healthy snacks, and drinking plenty of water.
Use Your Vacation Days
The reality is that traveling for work can be exhausting, especially if you’re always on the go and away from home. Therefore, you can manage life and a busy travel schedule by using your vacation days. Be good about asking for and taking time off throughout the year so you can regroup and spend time with your family.
Another idea is to consider extending your business trip for personal reasons and have your family come out to where you are and turn it into a weekend vacation.
Life can be hectic and overwhelming when you maintain a busy travel schedule!
Using some of these tips should help you stay organized and maximize your rest when you aren’t traveling. You might also enjoy reading:
When The Best Travel Moments Aren’t The Ones You Plan
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