Europe, Asia and back to California: Business travel is second nature to Denise Ruffner. The Covid 19 pandemic has made her rethink her approach. Read what she will do differently.
Typically, I travel full time for business, circling the globe once a month. I start in Europe, continue on to Asia and finally, return home to Southern California. My normal conscientious outlook extends to my business travel: When traveling, I feel a great responsibility to work hard and make the most out of every day. Each day is filled with appointments and meetings. I allow myself one hour, per week, as a break to do something fun.
This past year, while at home during the pandemic, I pondered my past business trips. I researched some of my favorite places to travel and realized that while I enjoyed being in a foreign city, I never took the time to experience it. I was so caught up in working that I had missed out learning about the city and experiencing its unique features.
Now that I am starting to think about business travel again, I realize that I can be diligent and maximize my work time in each city, yet also take time to experience something new. One hour a week of free time is simply not enough.
I need to give myself permission to experience each foreign city by trying new things.
Being deprived of travel has made me realize just how much I loved it – and how I need to change how I’ve been doing it. I need to spend more time in the moment, enjoying the culture and the environment rather than only worrying about the next meeting or deadline. I would like to come home with more stories and experiences.
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