I just returned from a Sunday-Friday extended business trip to Charlotte, NC. Other than one short trip last year, I haven’t really traveled for work much since the pandemic. So when I knew I was doing a longer trip, I stopped to think about how to make it as pleasant as possible. Here are my tips.
I’ve been thinking a lot about work these days, but there’s nothing like being immersed in it for almost a week! Leaving SFO on a 7am Sunday flight and returning late Friday night is A LOT of work time. There was a time in my life (hello, consulting days!) when I used my time on the road to let good habits drop. I was working too many hours. I wasn’t sleeping well. Exercise was sparse. Food and drink were not the healthiest. But as I get older, I am more protective of my wellness. And I didn’t want to get home feeling like a total wreck. So I was very deliberate about a few things.
Choose your hotel carefully
I was amazed to hear that some of my coworkers had chosen to stay at some truly crappy hotels. Especially when the Westin was an option for them too! I spent this extended business trip at the Westin in Uptown Charlotte, and it was a great choice. Why, you might ask?
- It’s been renovated fairly recently. Everything in the room felt new and fresh. I knew I’d be spending five nights in the room, and I didn’t want to feel slightly grossed out by the room (and bathroom!)
- It’s got a great location. It is close to the office where I spent my days, so no long walks through the Charlotte humidity to get there each morning. And best of all, it’s right next door to a Whole Foods (more on that below).
- The Westin “brand” is very focused on wellness and fitness- which is important to me. The hotel has a great gym with lots of space, machines (including 4 Peloton bikes), a good selection of free weights/kettlebells/medicine balls. And although it got busy in the mornings, there was still plenty of room to get my workout in.
- Westin is part of the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program, and you know I like that!
Of course, what’s important to you may differ. Perhaps you want to be closer to friends who live in the area. Or have a different rewards program in mind. That’s all fine- just don’t be the bozo who just selects the first option in Concur!
Be deliberate about what you eat (and drink)
You might be able to get away with dropping all inhibitions on food and drink on a short trip, but that won’t fly on an extended business trip. You can easily put on a pound or two, as well as feel like hell if you drink too much.
I put thought into my eating plan for this trip. Knowing that we would have catered breakfast, lunch and snacks, I asked for the menu in advance. That way, I could plan my meals and bring food from Whole Foods to supplement. And I brought some high protein items from home- like my favorite whey powder.
Did I get a few looks? You bet I did. Did I care? Not one bit.
I also realized that I would be tempted by the afternoon snacks- which included brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and pecan bars. Some of my favorites! So I gave myself some leeway to indulge, rather than aim for “perfection.”
Take the time to pay attention to your surroundings
During an extended business trip, it’s easy to just keep your head down- work, back to hotel, sleep, back to work. And finally, the trip is done. I decided to make an effort to pay attention to the details around me. I’m not claiming that I experienced what Charlotte is “really” like or any such claim. I moved back and forth within a six block radius of downtown Charlotte. But I tried to notice a few things around me that gave this trip a little more color.
There’s a nice patch of green space right next to our office building. I stopped there to do some deep breathing one morning. I saw some dogs. A fountain. Some historical plaques.
I noticed that the Whole Foods had a cool self-serve Amazon return kiosk. No need to bother to poor soul at customer service! We don’t have that in the Bay Area (at least not in my neighborhood.)
I saw that the Westin has beehives on the hotel property, which is cool.
And later I noticed that they sell the honey at the Starbucks in the hotel lobby.
All in all, my extended business trip went well and I returned in good shape, mentally and physically. Ready to get back to work! I hope you can use a few of these tips on your next trip- it does go fast, even when those meeting days feel endless.
