The author was a road warrior before the pandemic. While raising her two young children at home, she was often on the road for around 80 days per year. She thought that traveling for work was non-negotiable. The pandemic forced the author to stop traveling for a year and she was inspired to reconsider her home and work life. The author suggests three key lessons to be learned: (1) Maximize wellness on the road; (2) Reimagine family rituals; and (3) Travel less and smarter. These lessons can be used to help you balance the time spent with your family and the importance of attending an event in person.It is amazing to think that there was once a world where we couldn't imagine not traveling for work. Traveling for work was, like many others who are trying to raise families while working hard, a constant problem and source of stress. Our lives were governed by a Google calendar, which my husband and I created in intricately colored codes. It contained flight times and hotel information. It was a constant reminder of the creative negotiation and coordination that were required to get one of us home before the children went to bed.Before the pandemic I was a bit of a road warrior. My consultancy work required me to travel between out-of-state leaders conferences and a geographically dispersed client list. At my peak, I took around 30 trips per year, which translated into approximately 80 days on the road.Contrary to some of my more saner friends I refused to say no to an out-of town gig, even though my partner was more mobile than me and we had two young children. It was a real juggle. Business travel was a non-negotiable. Saying no would have a negative impact on my income and keynote speaking opportunities. Without all the travel, I could not imagine my professional life without it.My travel plans came to an abrupt halt, as did many others. I am now rethinking my future and am able to travel again. I have had to rethink my home and work life since taking a break from traveling. These are the lessons and practices I have learned.1. Maximize your wellbeing on the roadMany people found ways to improve their health during the pandemic. This could be through online yoga or a commitment to healthier eating habits. You can identify the positive changes that you have made and think of ways to make them more portable. You can continue your yoga practice while on the move if you pack a beach towel instead of your mat. Are you able to pack healthy snacks and easy-to-make breakfast items to keep you on track with your nutrition goals?In the past, when I was traveling for work, I used to pack my itinerary with back-toback meetings. When I returned to the States, I felt too exhausted to be with my family and partner. Walking long distances around New York City during the pandemic was one of my favourite activities to improve my mental and physical health. When I travel again, I will be looking for hotels close to parks and other walkable areas. Instead of choosing to be near the airport or convention center, I will choose the location that offers me the best overall wellness opportunities.2. 2. Reimagine family ritualsThis time has shown us that even luddites are able to log in to Zoom. Once we've returned from a trip, technology can be used to continue connecting with our families.I felt no need to make up for the time I had lost with my family since quarantine started. This year, we have had more time together than ever. Our family enjoys sharing meals together. All of us, except our noisy newborn, sit around the table and share what we did that day. We also make time to play music, do arts-and-crafts projects together, and go for walks in the park.Although we won't be able recreate our old rituals when we return to the States, I intend to use technology to keep in touch with my family. So, I will pack a picture book to Facetime my husband and read my children a bedtime story. I also plan to create and send quick video messages to my children, so that they know how much I love them and that I think of them daily.3. Travel smarter, not lessEach of us found ways to host trainings and conferences, and to give keynotes online during the pandemic. Virtual events and conferences will be available as we progress.Think about why or when you might choose to attend an event online over traveling. If your industry is busy, this might mean limiting the number of work trips that you can take each year or per month. My husband and I developed a checklist of rules to help us determine which opportunities are worth our time and which ones are not. You can use our list as is or modify it to fit your family's needs.8 Rules of the Road ChecklistIf one or more of these statements are true, I will not travel.Birthdays, holidays and major school events are not included in the timeframe. Meeting in person will make a big difference in our career. The total work trip takes less than three days. The trip is a day trip with a meeting at midday. It takes less than three hours. The flight takes between four and six hours. You have two weeks notice so that you can plan together and adjust your schedules. My spouse will be at home for dinner and sleep. We have plenty of time to plan for a work trip that can be turned into a vacation. The kids are welcome to join us.These rules make me feel grounded. However, I would be lying if i said that I did not miss traveling for work. Digital Body Language is my first book. I'm eager to go back to the road to receive real-time feedback from the audience. This can be difficult to do through screens. However, I won't be travelling back-to-back like I did pre-Covid, or missing performances, recitals and games of my children.When I travel for work again, I want to have fun and be able to re-create my family's traditions. I look forward to a better balance between travel and virtual events. Most importantly, I'm ready to expand my business and spend quality time with my family regardless of where they are.
