How to Stay Well While Balancing Work, Life, and Travel

Work-life balance can be hard enough. Being able to work from anywhere adds a whole new element. Not everyone has this ability, but if you do, you recognize that it might require some discipline and balance to do it well. I feel extremely lucky that I can do what I need to do from wherever I need to be. Here’s how I prioritize staying well while working on the go…

Staying Organized

Plan ahead

The number one thing that helps me stay organized when working and traveling is planning ahead. I will say that I'm a planner at heart, so this comes naturally to me. But it honestly helps things run smoother and reduces stress when you take a few extra minutes to lay it all out. Take a calendar, planner, or whatever you use and look at what you have to do the week before, the week during, and the week after travel. How much of it can you get done before leaving? What will need to be done by the time you get back? Do you have meetings or deadlines, and is there a time change? Having this visual and laying it all out should make things a bit more manageable, especially if you're feeling overwhelmed. After looking at this and writing it all down – prioritize. List what needs to be done first and what you really won't want to do on your trip. Prioritizing is key.

Don't procrastinate

It is soooo important to avoid procrastinating before traveling. Whether it's procrastinating packing, projects that need to be done, meetings that need to be had, or even reservations that need to be booked. The last thing you want is to feel like you're scrambling to find time to get it all in before a trip. If you’re lacking motivation to get going just think about how much less you will want to do this stuff on your trip. Avoid procrastinating by planning ahead. Get stuff on your schedule. I might be repeating myself from the section above, but I really can't stress it enough. I know some people work well under pressure, but in this case, procrastination will only lead to more stress. And who wants to deal with that before a trip?

Time block

Time blocking has been a game-changer for me regardless of whether I'm traveling or not. Personally, my mind cannot focus on one thing for more than an hour or so. Because a lot of what I do is on my own time (aside from class, clients, and some meetings), I find that blocking an hour for each task helps me stay focused and organized. It's also helpful when I have a million things to do at once, which can often be the case before a trip. As much as I love multitasking, our brains really do better work when focused on one thing at a time. You'll be more efficient and more productive. Honestly, I just use my notes app and every Sunday I write down what I have to do for the week – hour by hour. Maybeeee this seems a bit excessive or maybe you have a better tool you use for time blocking (google calendar is great too) but it works for me.

Staying Productive

Assign your time

Working while traveling isn't always ideal but you gotta do what you gotta do. What has really helped me enjoy my time and stay productive is blocking out time either in the morning or at night to get some work done. This isn't always possible with meetings, but it does ensure that I won't constantly be checking my emails or rushing to get something done in the middle of the day. If you're a morning person, try waking up a bit early and going to a local coffee shop for an hour or two. If you know you'll have time at night, take some time before bed to catch up. I find that the evening works best when traveling to places like Europe where there is a significant time change. Evening there is typically late morning for California. You’ll be available during normal work hours. Blocking out time in the morning or night reduces stress by designating time for work and leaving time to enjoy your trip. I also designate planes, trains, or random down time to getting things done. Pro-tip is to save anything that doesn’t require great wifi for this. Utilize your time wisely!

Avoid multitasking

I mentioned earlier that I am the queen of multitasking, but ultimately it can leave us more overwhelmed and less productive. Studies show that productivity is worsened, not heightened when multitasking. Typically, when we're traveling, we're on a time crunch for work, so we want to make the most of it. Prioritize productivity by focusing on one task at a time (time blocking is a great way to do this) or even concentrate on one thing each day. Maybe one day on the trip, you take more meetings, and you catch up on emails one day. Experiment and find what works for you but try to prioritize one thing at a time.

Staying Grounded

Routine

I’ve mentioned this a million times before but I’ll say it again - keeping up with your routine when you're on the go can be difficult, but it does help you feel grounded. Try to pick certain aspects of your morning or night routine that you can take with you. Maybe you read every night before bed or meditate in the morning. Try to continue to do this while traveling around. Obviously keep it up at home as well. Creating consistency, even in the little things, calms the brain. This will not only keep your mind grounded, but your body as well.

Physically grounding

Physical grounding when getting to a place can be very helpful as well. Signal to your body that you are in a new area by physically putting your feet on the earth and getting into nature. This might seem a little woo woo, but there is actual research to support grounding. The electric charge of the earth can reduce inflammation and stress, improve blood flow, and balance energy.

Being present

Staying grounded can also include truly recognizing where you are and being in the present moment. When in Rome, ya know? One of my favorite ways to do this is by taking a minute, literally a minute, each morning to acknowledge where I am and what I'm doing. This brings you back to the present so you can enjoy where you are now. Maybe it sounds silly, but think about the times you’ve been somewhere and you’re having a lot of fun, and you look back and it seems like it didn’t even happen? It happens to me pretty often, so I just try and bring myself back to the present during those times.

Staying Calm

Gratitude/mindfulness

Whether it's for work or pleasure, traveling a lot can be stressful sometimes. Dealing with planning, airports, and expenses isn't always easy. It's normal to feel a little overwhelmed and stressed out. There are ways you can minimize this, though. First, try the tips I suggested above, especially if you're more type A. Actually, even if you aren’t, I would give it a shot. Planning ahead and staying organized will genuinely make things less stressful. Second, practice gratitude and mindfulness. I write down what I'm grateful for every morning at home and on the go. Gratitude leads to happiness, and it's hard to be stressed when you're truly happy. Meditation can also be really helpful. Another mindfulness tool I use when feeling overwhelmed is simply writing down all that's bothering me. Getting it on paper often releases a lot of the anxiety associated with it. Seeing it in front of me also helps me recognize that it's manageable and that I am fully capable.  

Take a breather

You know when you spend all day sitting on a plane and standing in lines and somehow feel absolutely exhausted after? Well we feel exhausted because our brains are constantly reviewing new stimuli during a travel day. This is a lot for our brains to process, and when it’s happening often, it becomes very overwhelming. Sometimes you need to take a step back and take a deep breath. Don't be afraid to prioritize your mental health. If you are feeling overwhelmed, take a day to reset. It can be a lot trying to balance it all. Spend time with yourself or with people who light you up. It is entirely okay to step back from it all. Put a self-care plan in place. Ultimately, we need to prioritize ourselves and our well-being. 

Staying Well

Movement

I always always always try to keep consistent with my workout routine whether or not I'm at home. Of course, on vacation, you don't need to pressure yourself or stress yourself out by going to the hotel gym for an hour every day. But if you're frequently moving around, a consistent workout routine is so important. I love going on walks when I get to a place. It provides movement and grounding, helping with your circadian rhythm. It helps reduce inflammation from flying as well. Keeping consistent with your workouts also keeps your body's natural routine and even your circadian rhythm in check. Of course, the number one reason to keep it up is for your mental health. Exercise boosts endorphins and reduces anxiety.

Food

I mentioned this in one of my other posts on balancing on the go (find it here) and have yet to find a better word for it. If you are traveling and want to feel your best, compare your options when it comes to food. Is it worth it? I don't typically like saying food is "worth it" because it can sound restrictive, but that’s not the point. It's simply being mindful of what you are fueling your body with so you can feel your best always.

When you are home, try focusing on cooking your own meals, eating whole foods, and getting all your nutrients in. You might not have this option while traveling. That's okay. Just try to do it when you can so you feel your best instead of letting the food get the best of you. That being said, try to think about what you might be missing out on when you aren't home. Bring some snacks, supplements, or whatever you might be lacking with you. A few things I bring when traveling include probiotics and vitamin D supplements.

Sleep

I've done a whole post on sleep. You can find it here. It is so so so crucial for our physical and mental health. Practicing good sleep hygiene should be a daily thing, like brushing your teeth. It is especially important when being on the go. Maybe you're dealing with different time zones, weird working hours, uncomfortable beds, or new routines. All of these things significantly impact our sleep and, therefore, our well-being. Stay consistent with your sleep hygiene to stay well, avoid overwhelming yourself, or getting sick.