As corporate travel ramps up again and the world opens borders, it’s important to maintain balance as you begin to travel for business again, Here’s a few tips for a happy home life when you’re on the road. 

Many millions of professionals travel for business, and although it’s always exciting to gain new clients and succeed at work, and seeing new places is fascinating, you may find that you still have mixed feelings about having to leave your home and family so much of the time. For some, this can lead to unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It can even lead to problems in their personal lives. However, it doesn’t need to be like this. There are ways to ensure that you can strike a good balance and that you – and your family – can be happy as much of the time as possible.

Honesty

Being honest is important for both partners in a relationship. If one of the partners is not happy about something, they need to say so. Otherwise, things will just continue on as they are, and nothing will change. This can then fuel resentment and anger, and the relationship can suffer terribly because of it. Don’t leave it until the night before an early morning flight, though. If you do this, then nothing will be resolved because there is no time, and it will make your time apart even harder with so much left to talk about. Make sure you have the opportunity to talk things through and come up with a plan to fix the problems wherever possible. It might be that you decide to travel together from time to time, or that you choose to look into relocating because moving closer to work will mean you can spend more time together and less time traveling. Whatever is going to work to keep everyone happy should certainly be discussed. 

Know When It Ends

There is nothing quite so unnerving as ambiguity, so if you know when your business trip is going to end, let your significant other know as well. Otherwise they will be uneasy and unable to settle because they are wondering when you will get back. This can make their own work life difficult, and it can leave them anxious and unsure. When you do return, make sure you show how excited you are to be reunited, and beforehand it’s a good idea to work out something you can do together when you get back such as enjoying a meal at a restaurant or going for a romantic walk. 

Keep In Touch

Over time it can become easy for couples not to speak to one another when one partner is away for business. They just continue on with their lives and discuss everything between them when the absent partner returns. However, that can cause issues, and ‘out of sight, out of mind’ is never a good thing in a relationship. It’s far better to keep in touch regularly throughout the trip, so that you stay in each other’s minds. You can talk on the phone or over Skype or other video apps, or you can simply text one another. Say good morning, say goodnight. Let your partner know how your day went. Little things mean a lot and can keep your relationship happy.

Keep Your Promises

Just because you’re away, it doesn’t mean you can suddenly stop keeping promises. If you say you’re going to call at a certain time, then make sure you do it, for example. Otherwise you can leave your partner feeling worried and lost, causing them a lot of anxiety that isn’t necessary in the least. If something comes up and you really can’t make your appointment, send them a quick text to let them know and rearrange a new time to call. Don’t just leave them waiting; it’s not fair and certainly doesn’t demonstrate your positive feelings towards them. If you’re just the kind of person who forgets these scheduled calls, place a reminder in your phone. That way, you won’t upset your partner, and you won’t end up in their bad books for forgetting. 

Be Focused

If you’re busy or distracted and you can’t fully commit to focusing fully on your partner when you contact them, it might be a good idea to reschedule your call or Skype. When you’re spending some time together, whether you can see one another or not, be fully committed to them. If you aren’t, your partner will be able to sense it, and they will worry that something is wrong or that you’re upset in some way. This can then lead to them being upset too. So pay attention to the person you’re speaking to. They may have something important to say, and even if you’re just discussing the minutiae of life, this is still someone who loves you, and that is hugely important.

Be Together Separately

As strange as this may seem, it can be done. Try some bonding activities that you can achieve when you’re many miles away from one another. You could watch the same TV show then discuss it, or read the same book. You could set up Netflix and watch a movie together – you could even do this when on the phone to your partner so that you can comment on the movie in real-time. Perhaps you can join one another (through devices) on your morning run – if so, don’t forget to pack your sports skirts or shorts and running shoes to make sure you can carry out this activity. It is things like this that will make you feel much closer to one another, and that will keep you connected even when you’re far apart. 

Do Your Own Thing

As much as sharing activities with your partner is important, it’s also good to do your own thing. You won’t both always love the same hobbies, and being away is a good time to get some ‘me time’ in. This will keep you relaxed and happy, relieving stress. Make sure your partner does their own thing too. Of course, you can talk about these activities when you do get together, but always doing the same thing and always being together can be a bit much sometimes, and it isn’t always the healthiest way to enjoy a relationship. Whether you’re together at home or you’re traveling and your partner is by themselves or with the kids, these separate activities should definitely be part of your lives. 

Take Care Of Your Health

Traveling can be quite taxing on your health. Many people who travel for work often eat whatever is most convenient, such as fast food, because they are in a rush and don’t have time for anything else, or so they think. Because there isn’t always time to exercise or even sleep, your health might suffer greatly thanks to this poor diet. You’re tired, sluggish, and generally unwell by the time you reach home. Please do yourself a favor: make time for exercise and eat healthily. Many fast food places now offer healthier options, so choose a sub or salad instead of a burger and fries, for example. Being in a healthier mental and physical state will allow you to make the most of your family time.

Reframe Things

Being on the move can be isolating, particularly when you have a lovely family at home. Think of the time spent at home or at work over a longer period of time rather than summing it up in a week. You certainly can’t think from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Consider the larger picture. How long will you be on the road? How many days do you spend with your family? Taking a full week off after two or three weeks of travel allows you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

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