Balancing work-related travel in FM: How can you maintain your work-life harmony?

I would also say plan ahead for what you'll need before, during, and after the trip. For instance, part of my job is to keep my company and brand at the forefront of people's consciousness, so that when they need a Travel Agent, they'll think of me. To do that, I need a strong daily social media presence. Next week I'll be traveling, at a conference, and taking some me time. So I just spent about an hour pre-scheduling my social media content for that time so I can concentrate on the in person business instead of being distracted by, "Did I post something today?" So basically PRE-PLAN for everything! *Social media content *Snacks while traveling *What cash will you need on hand Be like Santa. Make that list and check it twice! ??

To balance work life balance, I make sure to cross my t's and dot my i's to make certain, on my end, everything is in order. When life happens I'm very open to the changes. Since I don't book flights, it makes dealing with clients so much easier. Most of the changes come with flight cancellations, completely out of my control. I try to keep everything in my own hands to navigate without interference from outside sources. No longer work on weekends after Wave Season is one of the best things I do for myself. It helps balance my home life. My hours are my own. My phone is my best friend to keep up with all the bookings. Flexibility and planning in advance are my two biggest unique skills when setting goals to keep things running smoothly.

Aligning travel with academic calendars is crucial, but it's equally important to consider the dynamic nature of Faculty management. Despite the cost savings of booking in advance, last-minute changes are often unavoidable. To mitigate this: - Booking flexible travel options: Select flights, hotels, and rental cars that offer flexible cancellation or modification policies to minimize additional fees. - Set clear expectations: Communicate travel plans and expectations with colleagues, students, and supervisors to ensure a smooth transition of tasks. - Prioritize self-care: Make time for rest and relaxation during travel to maintain productivity. By embracing these strategies, Faculty managers can effectively balance work-related travel.

Effective planning is crucial for managing travel-related responsibilities. Create a detailed itinerary that includes your schedule, tasks, and deadlines. Communicate your plans with your team and stakeholders to ensure smooth operations. Use project management tools to delegate tasks and track progress, and prepare for potential disruptions with contingency plans.

Je pense qu’il faut également faire le distinguo entre vie privée et vie professionnelle sur le plan psychologique. A force de trop travailler ,nous nous épuisons psychologiquement et à un moment donné il est difficile de faire la différence entre la vie professionnelle et privée . Du coup on s’en mêle les pinceaux .

Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time to prevent burnout. Define specific work hours and stick to them, avoiding work calls or emails during personal time. Schedule dedicated time for rest and avoid overloading your travel schedule. Recognize when you need breaks to recharge.

I think this is one of the most important ones, especially in the US workforce. Employees are often expected to be “always on” and not only does this come from management but the employees themselves. There’s this culture of “the more I work, the better employee I am”. There’s no faster way to burnout than to be constantly on. I cannot stress the importance of being able to switch off and separate work from personal time and rest. It makes us better people when we well-rested and come to work with a clear-head. It should not be normalized in a company culture to be working outside of regular hours on the regular, unless there’s certain periods or urgent situations (real urgency) to deal with.

Une chose que j’ai trouvé utile c’est la séparation du téléphone professionnel et du téléphone privé . Je suis tout à fait d’accord sur le fait de mettre des limites aux heures de repos .

Leverage technology to stay connected and manage tasks efficiently. Utilize communication tools like video conferencing for meetings, and project management platforms to track progress and collaborate remotely. Mobile apps for travel bookings and expense management can streamline logistics and save time, allowing you to stay productive while on the move.

J’ai notamment constaté que lorsqu’un employé se sent acculé,voir épuisé et qu’il souhaite avoir un un ou deux jours de repos juste pour décompresser et bien l’administration n’est pas toujours favorable à cette idée .Et pourtant cela devrait être normal car plus l’employé se sent épuisé ,il sera de moins en moins productif malheureusement.