A work trip isn’t most people’s cup of tea, but sometimes they’re unavoidable. Going away from home for weeks at a time can be challenging in various ways, but it doesn’t always have to be a complete nightmare.
Here are six tips that you can use to make your life easier and more comfortable when you have to go away for a while.
Set Up a Home Base
First of all, set yourself up to be comfortable. Try to book accommodation that will suit your needs – a desk to work at, a small kitchen to cook a few meals yourself, etc.
If your trip is too long for a hotel stay, you can look into the furnished apartments Etobicoke has to offer or research long-term rental places in whichever area you’re working in. Being able to make yourself at home and feel comfortable is often a game-changer for these types of trips.
Protect Your Home
Before leaving for a long trip, make sure that your home security is up to scratch. By doing so, you won’t be wasting your time and energy worrying about your home standing empty or whether your family is safe inside it without you there.
Make sure you have security cameras that you can monitor from your smartphone, and ensure that your pets and plants are taken care of too.
Unpack Your Things
Another helpful tip is to unpack your bags. This might feel a little like a waste of your time and energy, but living out of a suitcase can be the real time waster and make you feel chaotic and uncomfortable.
Make use of the space you have by hanging or folding your clothes neatly, and put your toiletries in easily accessible spaces in the bathroom and dressing area.
Create a Routine to Stick to
If you already have a morning routine that you follow in your daily life, it’s a good idea to try and stick to that as best you can while you’re away.
If you’re not really a routine person, then try to at least have some sort of normal structure in your day while you’re traveling. Stick to regular meal times, include your weekly exercise in whichever way you can, and avoid going to sleep at strange hours.
Find a Great Coffee Place
Finding a great coffee shop or café can be really helpful. Make sure that it’s a comfortable and quiet place to work with a good internet connection.
You can use this space as a place to get quiet work done so that you’re not cooped up in a hotel room whenever you’re not in meetings.
Make Time for Fun
Finally, remember that you can still play tourist when you’re traveling for work. Make good use of your downtime by meeting up with nearby friends and family for drinks or taking yourself out for a nice dinner.
You might also consider extending your trip by a day or two so you can really experience what the area has to offer!