With the global nature of the workplace today, you can’t get out of a little business-focused travel. Whether it’s you or your employees, odds are somebody is hitting the road every now and then.
Corporate wellness doesn’t just encompass wellness in your physical office space. It’s important to stretch your wellness program to include and apply to employees who aren’t always in the office.
That’s especially true for employees who travel frequently because traveling can wreak havoc on a person’s health. The sedentary transportation, high-calorie takeout and mental exhaustion can really damage employee health.
With a little bit of focus, though, you and your employees can stay healthy when you’re on the road for work. It’s all about eating right, staying active and preparing well.
Eat Right
The first and easiest way to avoid the negative effects of consistently eating out is to stay hydrated—with water. Happy hour can be tempting, but that’s not the hydration we’re talking about. Drinking plenty of water helps you to regulate your hunger, and helps your body function even when it’s thrown out of your usual routine.
It’s also important to seek out real food. Most restaurants have lighter menu options, and you can make substitutions. Just be smart about what you’re ordering. If you question whether or not it was made fresh on-site, it’s probably not a great option.
If you don’t want to deal with the complexity of picking through menus, you can also pack your own meals and snacks. No matter where you travel for work, there will be a grocery store. If you need to make a stop when you get there to do a little meal planning, that’s just fine!
Regardless of what you choose to eat, it’s important to stick with a schedule. Don’t get stuck in meetings or traveling to the point where you haven’t eaten in hours and you’re famished. That puts you at a much higher risk to binge on foods that aren’t healthy and won’t sustain you. Stick with a regular meal schedule—and don’t forget about breakfast!
Stay Active
This one can be tricky. Most business trips are filled with the usual long days of travel and meetings, followed by relaxation with coworkers at happy hour or in the comfort of your hotel room. These types of sedentary behaviors not only have negative health effects in the moment, but can throw off any active routine you’ve built up at home.
You can stay active by planning and scheduling a workout each day. Your hotel will probably have a gym. If not, do a quick search for a gym with day passes. Even thirty minutes of strength training, biking or walking on the treadmill is a step in the right direction.
You can also work physical activity into your daily schedule. When possible, try to walk to meetings and meals instead of taking a cab (bonus: you’ll save some money!). You can also prioritize yourself by taking a small break between meetings to get up and stretch your legs. In the evening, you might opt for a walk with coworkers instead of (or before) heading to happy hour.
Be Prepared
Preparation will not only help you carry out the physical health habits, but it can help you stay mentally and emotionally healthy as well! Prepare for your trip so you can stay organized—and stay sane.
Business trip preparation should always include an itinerary. Be sure you know where you need to be and when. That includes knowing who will be picking you up from and dropping you back off to those places.
You’ll also need to pack well. If you need any supplies or information for the work you’re doing, be sure it’s handy, organized and accessible. You can also pack for your healthy behaviors by bringing snacks or even small workout equipment.
Finally, it’s important to have your “ducks in a row” at home. The last thing you want to do when traveling is worry about who is holding down the fort while you’re gone. Be sure you have the necessities taken care of so you’re not trying to be in two places at once.
Traveling can be necessary for any company. That’s to be expected! Your wellness program can help you and your employees stay healthy on the road, though.
For employees who travel frequently, consider putting together a “Healthy Travels” training program. You can even offer wellness points or credit to employees who take the training before leaving for business trips!
How do you stay healthy on the road? We’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!
