Firstly, a work-life balance is often misconceived as presenting in equal parts the ability to work hard and perform at one’s peak, as well as relax at home with family and friends. The reality, in fact, is that work-life balance is all about creating a routine that enables one to avoid serious illness, strained relationships, and burnout.
"Balance is impossible to attain on a daily basis," warns Zi Hattingh, an executive coach at Cycan. Rather, she says: "It is about priority, addressing the important rather than the urgent. What in life is more important than your health? Health implies good eating, sleep, exercise, and relationships, as well as the golden triad of meaning: purpose, autonomy, and mastery."
"Getting help from a Travel Management Company (TMC) frees up a lot of time for travellers," says Andrew Grunewald, general manager of Flight Centre Business Travel (FCBT). "Not having to deal with stressful details such as flight changes and late check-ins means travellers can focus on their primary concern, which is driving business. TMCs also leverage their global buying power, meaning better rates and the best value for money."
A TMC will also help overcome common travel pitfalls, referred to as 'pain points'.
Travellers face a number of these pain points on any given day, but a survey by the Global Business Travel Association has found nearly all are either time or booking-related, which a TMC can address with ease.
The temptation to eat fast, convenient foods at irregular times is big for road warriors, for whom finding a gap between clients and calling it a meal time is far from ideal, and often fatigue from the day means that a home-cooked dinner is off the cards.
Try to prepare healthy weekly lunches on a Sunday and package them individually for a convenient ‘grab and go’ option. Many hotels will assist with a packed lunch if requested at the time of booking.
Exercise is another habit that easily falls by the wayside during frequent travel. Not only is it a good way to relieve pressure and keep healthy, but it also helps maintain focus when at work.
"We are not designed to be sedentary," says Hattingh, "but you don’t need to be running marathons either. Find an activity that you enjoy and incorporate that into your daily routine."
Salespeople tend to be natural people pleasers and saying no doesn’t always come easily. In order to achieve any semblance of balance, it is important to draw a line somewhere and stick to it. Say no to things that cut into personal time and don’t dwell on it, the experts suggest.
"Don’t skimp on what’s important in your life. Yes, that includes doctor’s appointments, long weekends, romantic dinners with your partner," says Hattingh. "All these things help you to recharge and find your feet again. Say no when you really can’t do something. This will also ensure others respect your boundaries and your time."
As glamorous as constant travel seems, most business travellers are suffering from serious traveller fatigue, and having a perk or two can go a long way in relieving some of that pressure.
For example, FCBT’s SmartSTAY programme looks to increase productivity, addressing these traveller issues has by including perks such as free breakfast, early check-in and free upgrades, all of which increases comfort and ups traveller productivity on the road. Other offers include a range of bleisure options which can be added to a booking without any hassle. Adding a leisure element to corporate travel increases personal enrichment, a vital component in a work-life balance.
Constantly checking for messages or e-mails might seem like a habit in efficiency but, in fact, it can reduce focus and needlessly injects stress into downtime. Checking devices before bed may also lead to disturbed sleep and reduced cognitive performance.
Be purposeful with devices and find methods of communication that offer the most efficiency with the least disruption.
According to MMGY Global, 81% of millennials actually associate business travel with higher job satisfaction. As a result, the demographic was found to take more business trips than any other generation — 7.7 per year on average.
However, Grunewald explains millennial professionals want to work in an environment that prioritises the health and happiness of its workers. How can you marry frequent business trips and work-life balance?
