Travelling for business can be stressful and draining, as we struggle to deal with hours spent travelling, time zone changes and any number of delays and inconveniences.
That’s why we’ve teamed up with aromatherapy specialists Scentered. They’ve written this guide for all the women who are bossing it on the go.
Scentered co-founder Lara Morgan knows all about the drain of business travel; during her last year as CEO of Pacific Direct she spent over two hundred nights away from home, and on more than one occasion had to open the hotel curtains to figure out which country she had woken up in. Waking up in different time zones, attending meetings, struggling with jet lag and exhaustion and trying to also maintain a normal home life can take its toll.
Scentered is a brand born from the need to remain “Scentered” amid the chaos and fatigue, and to claw back just that little bit of time and space for oneself. Here are our tips for staying Scentered when travelling for business:
- Stay hydrated. When we’re out of our normal routine – or if we don’t have a regular routine – drinking water can be the first thing that slips. Air travel in particular can really dehydrate us; a typical cabin has around 10-20% humidity, compared with a typical level of 30-65% at home. Being dehydrated can leave us feeling even more tired and drained. Try to keep a bottle of water with you at all times, and aim to keep up that magical two litres per day even while on the road.
- Travelling for business can be exhausting, and heading to the hotel gym is often the last thing on our minds after we finally check in. But staying active can be key to staying on top of things. If you can’t bear the hotel gym, do some bodyweight exercises in your hotel room or even just head out for a quick walk before breakfast.
- Bring an Ultimate Survival Kit to help you unwind. This 100% natural aromatherapy balm kit was created by Lara to help her stay calm on a really hectic schedule. We recommend using Sleep Well while on a flight – not just to sleep, but also help you to remain calm. Sleeping in hotel beds can be strange and uncomfortable, with unfamiliar surroundings and noises. Often we’re so wired from the journey that it can be hard to unwind and relax, especially if there is a time difference to take into account. Again, Sleep Well balm can work wonders here. Our Love balm is great for those moments when you’re missing home and want to feel comforted. For that all-important meeting, some Focus balm on your pulse points can really help you stay concentrated despite the effects of jet lag. And the Escape balm is perfect for winding down after a long day in a strange place.
- Keep a regular schedule. If you’ve arrived late or your first meeting is not until the afternoon it can be tempting to sleep in, but this won’t work well for you in the long term. Our bodies function best when we stick to the same routine daily, so set your alarm any way, and you’ll find you adjust more quickly to the time zone you’ve just arrived in.
- Avoid alcohol. You might feel like a party pooper if everyone else is heading to a bar after a meeting, but alcohol can really intensify that groggy feeling you get from hopping time zones or from extended time spent travelling. You might feel like having a drink will take the edge off your stress level, but in the long run it will make you feel worse. And nobody wants to get up the next day for a meeting – or worse, to travel home – with a hangover.
- Avoid watching the in-flight movie. It’s tempting to just zone out in front of a screen while on a flight, especially if it’s a long one. But all that time looking at a screen can leave you wired and unable to relax when you arrive at your hotel. Read a book or listen to music instead.
- Bring your own food for the flight. You’re never going to get a gourmet, healthy meal on a plane, and once you’re up in the air the choice is either the microwave meal they put in front of you, or nuts. Come prepared with a salad wherever you can; you’ll feel the benefit, especially if you travel regularly.
- Schedule in time for you. If you’ve a meeting on a Monday, fly in on the Friday so that you have time over the weekend to acclimatise, and to relax. You can use this time as a relaxing break so that you’ve had time to yourself before you have to attend a meeting and then fly out again.
If you travel a lot for business, there will always be times when you feel run down and fed up. Lara’s experience has taught her that the answer to frazzle-free business travel is prevention rather than cure: small things that can work together to help you perform your best and return home ready for the next challenge.