I always thought that people who had to travel for work were super glamorous. That was until a few years ago, when I had to start travelling to Sydney from Melbourne at least twice a month and I realised that it’s not glamorous at all, it actually just really sucks. It’s time-consuming, tiring, expensive and really disruptive to my circadian rhythms. And my… erm… digestive rhythms. I just got back from another trip to Sydney, which has been my third interstate trip in three weeks and I’m really starting to loathe the sight of airport security who always seem to think I have a bomb packed in my bag. I think deep down we’re all creatures of habit and we need to develop a few coping mechanisms for those times when we’ve been away from our favourite pillows and our local supermarket for just a little too long. Here’s how to cope with frequent travel…
Sleep On The Flight
I have a travel eye mask and the second I get on a flight and I’m settled in my seat, I pop my eye mask on and nap for the whole flight. Even if I’m not that tired, just having an hour or two of eyes closed rest in between manic packing and airport transfers makes a huge difference to travel days. You can buy cheap eye masks for about $6 at most airports which is a tiny investment for a few sneaky hours of fairly decent rest. I even use my inflatable neck pillow. I look like a total loser but I don’t care. It’s the perfect way to arrive relaxed and refreshed at your destination.
Never Eat Food At The Airport or On a Plane
I made a rule last month that I’m not allowed to eat anything at airports or on planes. Everything is loaded with sugar and salt and it’s also really expensive. I pack little boxes of almonds or dried fruit if I’m really desperate but other than that, I don’t go there. Most domestic flights are only a few hours long at most, which is a perfectly reasonable amount of time to go with out food. I’d just much rather wait and have a delicious meal when I arrive at my destination than feel disgusting from eating dried out airport sushi.
Avoid Checking In Your Luggage
Packing only carry on luggage is a major time saver. There’s nothing more frustrating than hanging around at the luggage carousel after you’ve been travelling for 3 hours straight. With a small carry on bag you can be out the door and first in line for a taxi in minutes.
Think of Your Needs When Choosing A Seat
If I’m in a rush, I request an aisle seat near the front of the plane. If I’m exhausted, I request a window seat so I can rest my head against the wall and have a decent snooze on the plane. Hot Tip: If you check in at the airport instead of online, they usually ask you what seat you’d like. Whereas if you book online, you often have to pay to select your seats. Just something to consider, especially if you’re a frequent traveller.
Avoid Alcohol
I know it’s hard but it makes all the travelling so much worse and your recovery time harder to cope with. If you have an event, stick to one or two glasses max and call it quits early. Try to avoid drinking on the plane as well. There’s something about trying to metabolize alcohol at 30,000 feet that just doesn’t seem to work for anyone.
Do you travel frequently for work? How do you cope with your hectic schedule?
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