The Knowledge > Step-by-step guide How to...
KEEP TRAVELLERS HEALTHY WHILE ON THE ROAD There are some easy ways for employers to keep their travelling executives stress-free and fighting fit, even if they are flying at the back of the aircraft, says Sarah Morgan of Health Matters 360
Sarah Morgan DIRECTOR OF HEALTH MATTERS 360 Sarah spent the first half of her career successfully marketing well known hotel and travel brands. She noticed that by investing in the internal brand (ie, employees) the external brand’s reputation and results improved too. ”It's by investing in your best asset, your people, that individuals and businesses thrive together,” she says. Health Matters 360 and its team of health and wellbeing professionals are passionate about keeping people fit and focussed for business.
THE credit crunch and travel cut backs have put business travellers under even greater pressure and can take a big toll on their health and wellbeing. “Those that are still travelling for business may be asked to travel in less comfort, do more when on their business trip to really make the investment worthwhile, possibly sacrifice personal or family time, and be asked to ‘hit the deck running’ on their return to the office,” observes Sarah Morgan, co-founder of Health Matters 360. Read on for Sarah’s step-by-step guide on helping keep business travellers in peak condition.
Step 1 A major cause of stress has been identified as lack of control over work activities or working environment, deadlines and workloads. Clearly travelling can produce and increase all of these and so exacerbate stress. This can lead to anxiety and anger, which in turn can reduce business performance and create long-term health problems. Delays make travellers feel out of control, while busy schedules get even more squeezed. Also longer hours may be needed to compensate for time out of office before the trip or at the destination. This, combined with a lack of comfort (economy class flights or a basic hotel, for example) and travel cutting into their own personal time, can make travellers resentful. If they are expected to work while on
the go, advise employees to build in breaks and downtime. They should practice
“Eating little and often helps maintain a constant energy level, especially if snacks contain a little protein”
7/11 breathing if situations
get stressful – this means breathing in for seven seconds then smoothly breathe out for 11, repeating. They should avoid holding their breath and make it a fluid calming action. Lack of sleep makes stress worse. Advise travellers to sleep on their journey as much as possible, using
music or self-hypnosis downloads to relax. Travellers should allocate proper compensation time for lost personal time and spend it doing something for themselves or with their loved ones.
Step 2 Before travel, travellers must exercise to get the body mobilised, flexible and to increase blood flow. Balance weight in luggage/bags so that the body is under even strain with laptop bags, briefcase and suitcase. During travel, change seating position regularly to balance strain on body and wear suitable footwear for the journey to cushion feet and allow for swelling due to restrictive movement. Movement is critical no matter how small, so tell travellers to stretch and walk about as much as possible. After the journey, ensure that travellers stretch the body just as they would before or after normal exercise.
Step 3 It’s worthwhile checking your travellers’ nutritional intake. Ask them to avoid stimulants (tea, caffeine, sugar, alcohol and nicotine) as these lead to a blood sugar high followed by a blood sugar low. Suggest they try refreshing foods and drinks such as ginger or lemon in hot water, or a herbal tea, fresh fruit or a salad. They should also try and reduce their
salt intake as flying dehydrates the body. Salt in food absorbs water in our bodies. To reduce the effects of dehydration travellers should eat lower salt foods, so
salted nuts, pretzels and crisps – all commonly offered onboard – should be avoided. Eat more fruit and vegetables which are full of the mineral potassium. Another key activity when flying is to
stay hydrated. Travellers should buy a big bottle of water and aim to drink all of it. Herbal teas are preferable to caffeinated and fizzy drinks. Eating little and often helps maintain
a constant energy level especially if snacks contain a little protein – meat, fish, nuts, seeds, pulses or some dairy products are all good. That's easier in business class but not so at the back of the plane, unless they stock up on the desired snacks themselves. A more carbohydrate-based meal before sleep is preferable, such as a jacket potato and baked beans, risotto, spaghetti bolognese or root vegetable soup and wholemeal bread. Again, that's not easy at the back of the plane! If sleep is impossible then travellers should stay alert by eating a more protein-based meal, such as a tuna nicoise salad, steak and vegetables, chicken salad or soup, or shellfish. Once again, if employees are travelling in economy class, they can look out for these fillings in sandwiches and buy them before boarding.
10 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM
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