Consultant Diaries - Surviving The Hotel Life
/So I’m an IT consultant. I love what I do. I love the hustle. I love the grind. However, I have to travel the nation which can sometimes cause challenges when I’m trying to develop a routine.
I’ve found that my brain LOVES a routine. It’s something soothing about knowing what’s next. What day you will do laundry. What days you will workout. Where you will workout. What you will cook for dinner each night of the week.
Say what you want about routines being boring, but I was extremely healthy back when I was able to lay out my plans and stick to a schedule.
I’m not able to do that anymore due to my travel schedule so here are some of the tips and tricks that I use to take some of the stress out of my travels:
I try to pack as light as I can. Something about a heavy bag weighs me down and makes me less excited about the trip. I like to be able to grab a small bag and go. You can’t do that when you have to check a bag and lug it around everywhere. Big bags also lead to back pain and ain’t nobody got time for that.
Research the area before I arrive. It’s great to have a plan in place. It eases my mind when I land in a new city and I am somewhat familiar with the area even if it’s only from internet research. I like to know what time I will land, how close my hotel is from the airport, what local attractions I would like to visit, and if any of my friends live in the area so that we can meet up for dinner and cocktails.
Bring workout clothes. Now I have to admit this is an area where I struggle. Sometimes I bring my workout clothes with me and I have the best intentions to workout but I never make it to the hotel gym, but lately here I’ve been doing better. Whew chile….traveling really packs on the pounds and I have got to develop more discipline in this area!
Staying busy is key! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come back to my hotel room and curled up in my bed, but I can tell you it leads to sadness/depression. I make every effort these days to make a full agenda for myself in the evenings so that I stay busy until it’s time for bed. My activities usually consist of working out, having dinner with friends or colleagues, sight-seeing, watching one of my favorite TV shows, getting my outfit ready for the next day, etc.)
If you travel for work, or you just travel often for pleasure, leave a comment with your tips to survive the hotel life.
Love,
Oliviya
