More often than not, dinners are scheduled by colleagues or clients on my first night. It’s a way of strengthening business relationships. It is also, I believe, a part of the business travel package that I signed up with when I took this job.
Despite the social setting, I still consider dinners with colleagues and clients as work.
In order not to experience burn out and plain exhaustion due to my frequent trips, I try to limit “work” after work hours. I prefer to give myself a breather in order to have a sense of work-life balance, even if I am not home.
How?
After a meeting, I head back to the hotel. If I have to go to dinner with colleagues, I try to agree to a schedule which would give me enough time to do something else in between. This something else varies. It depends on my mood and on what is available. I try to relax by taking a shower, calling home, sleeping, taking a walk, going to a local café to observe people or just watching TV in my room.
If I have the whole evening free, I do all of those I mentioned above. Of course, if I still have to prepare for the next day’s meeting/presentation, I also make time for that. But, that should only be after I have relaxed and cleared my mind.
This is important, for me. My productivity depends on it.
What about you?! How do you keep your work-life balance during a trip?
You can see a lot of a city if you have a free couple of hours.
Getting out of business mode, and enjoying the sights, and smells, and tastes, that a city has to offer is a good way to re-charge your energy.
Take advantage of those free hours and pick something to see or do.
Posted by: Mary Jo | April 24, 2006 10:44 PM | Permalink to Comment