How to become a more savvy business traveler

A [tag-ice]business trip[/tag-ice] is like a two-edged sword.  It’s great to get away from the office for a few days, but [tag-self]business travel[/tag-self] can be exhausting and your work only piles up while you are gone.  Here are five easy tips to become a better [tag-tec]business traveler[/tag-tec].

1.    Get smart about jet lag.  To minimize jet lag, schedule important meetings and activities for when you will likely have the most energy.  High energy times: evenings after jetting east…the next morning after jetting west.

2.    Schedule in some private time.  Be sure to keep an afternoon or day free to enjoy the sights and sounds of  your business trip destination.  And if there is not much to see, then schedule some “down time” to relax or do some shopping.

3.    Keep in touch with home base.  With internet widely available in most business hotels today, its easy to stay in touch with your family at a fraction of what it would cost to call home from your hotel room.  You can meet your kids online in a virtual room to share some playtime, even when you are thousands of miles away.

4.    Get sufficient rest.  Business meetings and receptions often tend to run late.  Be good to yourself and try to get sufficient rest when you are on a business trip.  This may sometimes mean having to leave the party much earlier than the rest of the group.

5.    Bring home a gift.  Frequent [tag-self]business[/tag-self] travel can take a toll on your family, so be sure to show how much you care by bringing home a thoughtful gift.  Your kids ( and your spouse) will appreciate it.  It is not the size or cost of the gift that matters most, it’s the realization that even though they were out of sight, they were never out of your heart or mind!