Tips to Maintain your Wellbeing While Traveling
One of the many days working on the road.
I’ll never forget my days working at Amazon — it was one of the most exciting yet demanding times of my corporate career.
As a remote employee and new manager building a team in another city, regular travel quickly became the norm.
At home, everything was dialed in: a stocked kitchen, favorite fitness spots within two blocks, and a calendar I controlled.
On the road? The opposite. Unfamiliar hotel stays, uncertain amenities, and back-to-back meetings that often had me leaving the office after dark.
Traveling several times a month gave me two options: let my healthy habits slip or create new ones. I tried the former and quickly found myself drained and stressed. So, I had no choice but to build myself a sense of home on the road.
Here's what worked for me...
➡️ Use new routes as a way to explore the city: The more I learned about my surroundings, the more I was able to find my go-to places. Running those paths also helped me release energy on days when I had back to back meetings.
➡️ Pack a traveling yoga mat: This not only allowed for peaceful mornings but also grounded me with familiarity, like bringing a piece of home with me to my hotel room. I really love this one from Manduka and it fits perfectly in my carry-on suitcase.
➡️ Hire a health and fitness coach: I hired a strength coach to help me build a flexible workout program that could be done in less time and with minimal equipment.
➡️ Opt for the same hotel room and layout: This gave me consistency and a familiar setting away from home.
➡️ Maintain a capsule wardobe: Nothing helps more with the mental spin than keeping your wardrobe simple and predictable!. It can still be colorful and have flare, but having a few outfits ready to go can give you a lot of time back when you need it most.
➡️ Go to the grocery store: Regular visits to a grocery store ensured I had consistent snacks, supplements, and occasional treats to sustain me through challenging days.
➡️ Choose restaurants wisely: Choosing a few trusted restaurants for meals allowed me to nourish myself without additional decision-making stress.
➡️ Download go-to music and guided meditation playlists: When I was totally smoked, these playlists were the magic ticket to relaxing in trains, planes, car rides, and my hotel room!
By eliminating decision fatigue, I freed up mental space to focus on work while still prioritizing my well-being. The best part? I had full control over these choices. I adapted to existing systems and made intentional decisions that supported my wellness. While I do work with teams today to help promote wellbeing for their employees, it’s nice to also know that we can make immediate changes on our own while systemic ones are still underway.