If you partake in frequent business travel, you know burnout is real. I bring this up not to scare anyone. In fact, it's meant to do the opposite. The more we acknowledge burnout of any kind, the more likely we are to reduce stigma, create solutions, and help one another.
My blog coincides with "World Mental Health Day", recognized on Thursday, October 10th. If you know me, you know there are few causes more near and dear to my heart. World Mental Health Day is a time to celebrate global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. In honor, I want to share warning signs, as well as tips to avoid the burnout associated with frequent business travel.
While doing research, I found a Kingston Study that surveyed 200 frequent business travelers. 45% of those surveyed reported higher stress levels than normal while on business trips. 31% experienced emotional exhaustion on a weekly basis–a major risk factor of burnout. A recent Simpila Business Travel & Mental Health Survey reported 80% of those surveyed have experienced mental health problems, including stress, and have not told their employer.
Travel burnout isn't always easy to identify until it's too late. Despite its allure, travel can be exhausting (and I'm not just talking about different time zones). I scoured the World Wide Web to provide potential warning signs of burnout, and tips to avoid it.
Warning Signs of Travel Burnout:
- Loneliness
- An overwhelming feeling of being homesick
- Diminishing or inconsistent results at work
- Insomnia
- Extreme tiredness/exhaustion
- Stress: drinking too much, not exercising, distracted eating
- Lack of boundaries with your work hours
- A general "off" feeling - not feeling like yourself
- Physical symptoms: GI pain, dizziness, chest pain, headaches
- A serious case of the "over-its": you're over figuring out where to go, where to eat, how to get places, talking to locals, making decisions
Tips & Tricks:
- Practice mindfulness
- Get organized. Plan ahead.
- Connect with nature
- Make time for exercise
- Eat nutritious meals: a well-balanced diet can do wonders to combat fatigue.
- Pro Tip: Consume food with a higher water content (fruits & vegetables) as well as lots of pure water before, during and at least 24-hours after your trip.
- Seek support: look to your family, friends and co-workers for their support
- Look at your options: talk to your boss and share your concerns of exhaustion and possible burnout
- Disconnect: ideally, the emails and social media can wait. Unplug. Decompress with a book or a favorite movie.
An all-encompassing piece of advice and one of my favorites: BE KIND TO YOURSELF: Listen to your body, practice self-care, advocate for yourself, and when you're not feeling on top of your "A Game", do what you can to take a break. There are an overwhelming number of benefits of travel. Like anything in life, it's about finding a balance. Consider this your survival guide and let me know if I've missed anything you practice in your daily life in order to avoid general burnout and exhaustion. Until next time, I wish you safe travels and many adventures!
Written by:
Betsy Collings, Corporate Account Executive at Turf Valley Resort
View Betsy's profile | Linkedin.com/in/betsycollings