Do you ever feel overwhelmed with a mild sense of dread before professional travels?
It’s fun to get out of the work rut, change the scenery, and travel to a new city. But fear of the unexpected, the pressure of learning or representing, and the overload of socializing can take the joy right out of the trip.
Let’s be honest, professional travel as an introvert can be challenging, and it requires special considerations.
I’m in a season of events and professional travel. This is both exhilarating and energy-draining for a high-achieving introvert.
When your schedule requires a lot of professional travel
Within two months, I’ve been to a professional event where I stepped in as a last-minute emcee, I’ve spoken at two events, I’ve coordinated a combined work/ski trip with friends, and I’m attending two workshops that I’ve never been to before.
Whew! That’s a lot of stimuli and pressure for an introvert.
Yet, I love travel, seeing old friends and making new friends, challenging myself as a speaker, and learning new skills.
With all the energy-consuming stimuli, I have to make careful decisions to take care of myself and create small pockets of time to prepare, be quiet, and recover.
Being an introvert is about how our brain responds, and how much energy it requires. While we love learning and socializing, we may be tired after a cocktail party or overwhelmed by a noisy space.
So how do we as quiet driven professionals counterbalance traveling to new cities, pursuing our goals, and networking with caring for our sensitive souls?
Thirteen “quiet care” tips to try during your next professional trip
- Go a day early or stay a couple of days after. This provides time for orientation, relaxation, preparation, and a few moments of pure joy.
- Keep some flexibility in your schedule so you can change your activities to your mood.
- Book flights during a less crowded time of the day. Fewer people and less chaos are worth the inconvenience. Plus, there is a better chance of a seat upgrade.
- Get an airport lounge membership for a quiet reprieve from the airport noise. It will help you arrive more rested and relaxed.
- Consider driving to your destination or renting a car for a day. This provides time to sort your thoughts and take in some scenery.
- Ask for a hotel room with a view or on the quiet side of the building. Or find an Airbnb in an appealing neighborhood. A space that is comfortable and supports you becomes a small haven away from home.
- Find a quiet, esthetically pleasing place to sneak away. Look for a cozy café, beautiful park, or indie bookstore. Even a patio or bench will do for a few moments of deep breathing.
- Look for self-guided walking tours or museums where you can wander and decompress at your own pace.
- Embrace the joy of chatting with people you don’t know and whom you will likely never meet again.
- Pack amenities that help you rest. Favorite loungewear, noise-canceling headphones, eye mask, snacks, Bluetooth speaker, or white noise machine.
- Find a wingman/wingwoman. This is a friend or colleague who understands you but is a bit more extroverted, to take some of the pressure off at meetings or parties.
- Make dinner reservations ahead of time for 2-4 people. Then you can invite someone that you enjoy spending time with or even dine solo if you feel like it.
- Allow yourself one day at home to recover before returning to your place of work. Time to reorganize and rest will work wonders on your mindset.
Try different things until you find what works for you
How we respond and recharge is unique to each one of us. Don’t be afraid to experiment and learn what works best for you. And do not apologize for taking care of your needs, especially during professional travels.
I often skip the closing party of an event so I can travel home early. This helps me be less drained and provides a little extra time to recover.
Recently, I combined a speaking event with a ski trip. My ski buddy made a run to the grocery store for healthy foods that would support my well-being as a speaker. This small gesture was a huge part of my success.
Last week, I neglected to ask for the quietest room. But since I arrived a day early, I was able to catch a mid-day nap as well as take advantage of the pedestrian-friendly historic neighborhood. This helped me feel rested and ready for my presentation.
In a few weeks, I will be doing some collaborative work with a colleague following a conference. We have opted to go to the family cabin nearby for a more relaxing and creative space to work.
It’s important to know your optimal zone of function. That’s the place where you feel alive and most authentically you. While it’s great to stretch ourselves to the boundaries of our genetic temperament, we must also allow time and space for the rebound. Think of it like stretching a rubber band.
When you care for your unique personality, you will naturally sparkle with authenticity and positive energy. This is your unique texture and all you have to learn is how to accessorize it.
Your professional trips will become more enjoyable. Your networking will become more powerful. Your learning will be deeper. You will find more moments of fun and joy. And the swings between excitement and fatigue will become less dramatic.
On every trip, I’m adjusting my “quiet care” routines and learn something new about supporting my success and well-being. I’m also finding new ways to add pleasure and joy to my professional travels.
I’d love to hear your tips for “quiet care.” Please share by email or on Instagram.