Work/Life Balance Tips for the Business Traveler

Balance and the business traveler has everything to do with staying "connected". As I indicate in my book, Work for a Living & Still Be Free to Live, we achieve a fluctuating balance by how we CHOOSE to stay connected with the critical areas of our life. Business travel can take a heavy emotional, physical and mental toll.

Let me suggest some ways to stay connected with these areas while "on the road":

Emotional -- staying connected with your home base and significant people. If you have children, depending upon their ages, consider the following: Take your child with you in your imagination. Ask them if they would select a SMALL toy of theirs that you could carry with you and so stay connected with them. Tape-record a favorite story or a good night ritual that can be played before the child goes to sleep. With the child, track your travels on a map and together talk about some of the places or things of interest about your destination (lobsters in Maine; skyscrapers in NY, the lions at the Chicago Art Museum.) As an added bonus, you will have a new appreciation for the place where you'll be.

Send post cards home to each member of the family (Make up labels in advance and buy stamps. You only need to write one personal line. Doesn't matter that you'll get home before the postal. You thought of them.- Leave love notes for your partner (under the pillow/ with the toothpaste/ on the bathroom mirror)- My husband leaves a message with the hotel operator to deliver "Bill loves you most!" Operators really get a kick out of delivering this message- Have a different e-mail address for family members and send home messages- Take a blank book and fill it with favorite pictures of home, family, friends, pet. Always take the book with you on your travels. (I do!)- If possible, make separate calls to your spouse and your children. That way, no one has to share "air time".

Physical -- staying connected with your body-- Be THERE. Don't keep two watch times. You'll be tempted to say "But I can't go to sleep now--it's only 7pm in CA. or :I can't get up at 6:00--it's only 3AM in CA.)-- Plan time (it won't just appear) for exercise of any kind. Bring shoes for running or walking. Bring exercise rubber bands for muscle tone. (Take up no room) Use stairs rather than elevator where possible--Bring any item which can easily make you "feel at home" This can be anything from a pillow case, a teddy bear, a small picture.--If it's your style, bring herbal scents for the room; bath salts; One friend carries a device for drowning out sound. She turns it on and selects anything from ocean sounds to raindrops...--Try a portable vaporizer. Clears sinuses and puts moisture back into the face.-- Bring saline solution nasal spray for the airlines. Also, a small atomizer of water (some kinds are mixed with aloe). Body tissues become very dehydrated on flights.--Drink more water than you ever thought possible.-- Always ask for a room away from the elevator and the ice machine-- Unless you have great stamina, avoid red eye flights. Much better to come in rested to do work than stumble your way through a meeting.-- Find luggage that works for you. Weight, size, length of shoulder strap. --Lighten the load: if an extended trip, ship home materials or clothes you won't need. Bring a pre-addressed packing slip. Concierge can help. Whenever possible, check your baggage. Carry only with you the necessities for work and personal hygiene and health. Wear clothes that could suit for your meeting should luggage not make it. There's far too much carry-on these days.

MENTAL -- staying connected with your psyche.-- Self-talk is powerful when traveling. Why become angry and upset at weather delays (over which no one can do anything)? Mechanical problems are a fact of life. If at all possible, never book yourself on the last flight to your destination. Always have a later flight. And if you can't make it, consider that you have been given a gift of time. -- Use time in flight to get caught up on journals, periodicals, etc. For me, a successful trip is when my briefcase gets lighter and the pocket of the seat in front gets heavier.--See your destination with new eyes. Consider that you are an explorer. Try something new: a restaurant, a neighborhood, a museum, even the note the difference of people. Keep a small journal and write observations. This also lets you bring home "more than work" to share with the home front.-- Start the day quiet. Meditate. Deep breathe. Allow enough time to get ready before you leave the hotel.

Lastly, expect the unexpected and let go of the outcome. Do what you can for contingencies. Bring a cell phone, essential numbers and don't book the last flight out. Then relax into the uncertainty of travel. Stress comes from trying to control the uncontrollable. Let it go.

Travel Shanghai China

Travel Shanghai China, An amazing city.

My friend live, work, play in Shanghai, China’s largest city, largest port; a city of 16 million people, (many millions more during holidays and festivals), a city wanting to be the biggest, best and most important in the world.

If you had been able to Travel Shanghai 10 years ago, and returned today, you would see a very, very different city.
Shanghai today is a modern, 21st Century city, with tall, new shiny buildings, amazing nightlights, a wonderland.


Finding the old sights and sounds of the old city is becoming more difficult as the city’s rapid development produces almost instant change, almost everywhere.

Shanghai is a Chinese city of surprises: - a bizarre, and sometimes brutal, colonial history (British, French, American, Italian, Japanese) and dark days exploited as an Opium trade hub. Mix that with ancient Chinese culture and today we have a city urgently trying to leave its colourful past behind and which will soon be compared, in class and elegance, with any major city in the world.

When you Travel Shanghai China, you will quickly notice it is the power-house of China, the money-making machine that drives the Chinese economy continually forward.

Shanghai is usually a business destination. However if you are coming for a China vacation, or traveling through on the way to somewhere else, Travel Shanghai China has some must-see experiences and is a good way to introduce yourself to the wonders and difficulties of Travel in China.

There is still a lot for the visitor to see and do in Shanghai. Bars, Clubs, Business, the incredible skyline of beautiful tall buildings as far as you can see. The 21st century architecture. However, the truth be told, when you Travel Shanghai China, the city itself does not have a lot of cultural feel about it. Shanghai is the financial center of China.

I could talk all day about what great fun it is to live here; it’s a lively vibrant place that moves at an extraordinarily fast pace.

I will cover some of the highlights but you need to see and feel the place personally to fully appreciate it.

Some Shanghai Highlights

• The beautiful colonial-style buildings along the river; an area called the “Bund” where these remarkable buildings from old European days are marvelously lit up at night, and have been beautifully restored; the contrast between the Old and the New is quite a sight.

• The most famous shopping street and lighting effects in China, Nanging Rd, is just a short walk from the Bund.

• The famous Xintain Di district: - this area is the social hub of Shanghai, the very best in chic and style, expensive cars, fine wine, the best restaurants, a very happening place.

• At the southern end of another famous shopping street, Huai Hai Rd, is an area known as the “French Concession”, where peaceful tree-lined streets with wonderful colonial-style villas would make you think you were actually in Europe.

• A must thing to see and do, is to visit the viewing platform at the top of the Jin Mao Tower, the third highest building on earth, the tallest with an hotel inside (the Hyatt). This stunning building is 89 stories high and the view of the city from the top is spectacular.
A very special treat is to have a buffet dinner at the Hyatt on the 53rd level, then go up to the bar on the 89th floor and enjoy a drink and the view, which at night will amaze you.

• Shop !!! There are Antique markets, Bird and Bug markets, Commodity markets, Clothes and Fabric markets, local markets and a very famous market where you can buy all the world’s best brand names, at amazingly low prices.
Shanghai is a shopper’s heaven, come with a small suitcase and leave with a big one.

Secret Treasures

If you come to Travel Shanghai China and have time, just outside the city, one or two hours on a bus are some real treats.
Would you like to see tranquil lakes?... beautiful Chinese gardens?... ancient villages?


Here are a few places that are very close to Shanghai which can often be overlooked when one comes to Shanghai. These cities, towns and villages are the real deal and a must-see adventure.

Just an hour by local bus is Zhujiajiao, About two hours away by bus or train is Suzhou, as well as Hangzhou. As I grow this blog, I will add places that are more interesting.

Enjoy Shanghai…I do!!

Tips for saving money traveling in China

Base on our experience, most of our travel expense is on the hotel, the food and tour service are really cheap in China.what do we come here for?-sightseeing and cultural experiences on this new land! why do we have to spend more on hotels ? So our tips are:


1. Book a hotel through China's LOCAL hotel network - like HotelGuideChina.com. and etc With wider hotel choices (including international hotels), better local discounts, they don't need prepayment for hotel, so there is no fee for cancellation, you just pay when arriving in the hotel.

2. Book tour packages directly from China's LOCAL hotel network(like the former one). the prices are cheaper and the designs of those trips are more to your specific taste. like, you know most people who come to china and go visit the great wall have been travelled along the same path ,which can be quite boring sometimes...somehow the local network provide you with some amazing choices for a hike in china that you have never had.


3.Or if you wanna stay in China for a longer time(more than one month)then renting a serviced apartment would be an ideal choice for you.There is no doubt that its much cheaper than staying in the hotel,whats more,maybe you can get a homecoming feeling living in a cozy apartment ,where you can also get serviced(breakfast and cleaning stuff; or you may handle it yourself too-like cooking a tasty pasta to your own style(taste;) 

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