Originally Posted by
BananaJax
I recently picked up a new job (which I love) and through them I'm traveling more than I ever have before. The problem I've run into is that all this travel (about 2 weeks a month, and most of this month so far, i took vacation) and time zone changes (i fly PST<->EST for most of my jobs) are taking its toll on me. I've only been doing this about 3 months now and I cant afford to burn out this quick.
Thoughts? Tips? Suggestions?
It's also worth it to mention I end up in small towns in the middle of no where, with a rental car. So a bit of traveling around is an option, but heck I miss my home.
Thanks for listening and letting me vent a bit.
Well, here is a "grass is always greener" bit of story for you. I burned out after about 2 years of WEEKLY travel across the US 75%, 25% international (europe and asia ). I was ALWAYS on the move..in an airport, hotel, a few hours in the local field office. I became disoriented. There were a few times when i would be standing in a hotel room washroom (they all kind of look the same) and with terror forget where I was, having to grab the phone book to find out. But there were good times too, especially when I got to finish up early and see the sights. Met a few ladies
, saw something unusual, had nice balmy weather in Indonesia a week after staying at Days Inn in Des Moines in winter..adventures.
However, when vacation time came around, I stayed home. It was my relaxation to not go anywhere.
I decided I was burnt out and got a job at a standard office...Mon-Friday, 830 to 5. Everyday. Same route to work. Same faces. Let me tell you something, I regretted it deeply. It was absolute cubicle death (even though I had my own office). The office politics, the stupid team building outings, the monthly cake parties, the gossips, the lunchroom...I realized that when I was out on the road and only in the home office a few days a month, I worked better. I was essentially my own boss (even though technically I had a boss). I built my schedule. I ate on the company dime. Turned the mileage perks into cheap-as-dirt/free 5 star resort stays, spent time walking around duty free or the Vegas strip while others in the company fired up their cubible lights. I missed everything about being on the road and realized that
The road warrior life is so much more free than than the office life. It's not everyone's piece of cake..but if you make sure you take time off at the right time and balance properly, it is heaven compared to the life of the office.
So, after 2 years I managed to get another job that put me back on the road and I feel noting but relief.
Burn out happens, but it only requires a bit of rest. But don't forget the hidden perks of the road warrior life.