It can be hard working away from home for the first time, especially when you have young children. Here are 5 ways to make it easier:
Keeping in touch while working away from home:
Agree set times to give your family & partners a call, especially if you are in different time zones. It will help make sure you don’t miss each other and don’t accidentally call when the other is at work, asleep or just too busy to talk. It can help to video call a few times a week as well, just seeing each other can make a big difference. If you both have iPhones FaceTime is a good choice, but if not Facebook Messenger, Skype and Zoom are all good choices.
Something to do after work:
One of the main causes of feeling down is boredom. Make sure to pack some of your favourite films (if your laptop has a DVD player) or save some to your watch list on Netflix before working away from home. It’s also worth looking at what gyms in the area allow you a daily entry without membership. Why not consider staying in a serviced house with your team members so you can always talk to someone?
Why choose serviced accommodation? https://www.rapidtravelgroup.com/2022/02/14/serviced-accommodation-the-benefits/
What else to bring: https://rapidtravelgroup.com/2018/05/08/the-ultimate-working-away-from-home-checklist/
Food makes a difference:
If you are working away from home for more than a week, the unfamiliar meals might start to make you feel home sick. Just eating something you would always have with your family can make you feel better. If you are staying in serviced accommodation, there is no reason you can’t continue to eat as you would at home. It’s best to plan some meals for the week before you go, so you have a list of ingredients and the recipes ready. Go shopping on the first day as well, before you get too busy. If you wait until after work you’ll probably just decide to get a takeaway.
Keeping your home routine when working away from home:
It might not be possible with your work schedule, but keeping the same routine you have at home can keep you body clock from feeling disoriented and help you stay focussed. It’s also important to not consider this work trip as a chance to stay up late every night just because you are away. It might be tempting, but you still have to get up for work in the morning.
The difference a quick message can make:
Try sending a quick DM or text message to loved ones every morning and night to stay more connected and aware of what each other is doing. It also helps to send a photo as well – Snapchat is good for this. Ask family to send update photos as well, so you don’t miss out on much while you’re away. This is especially good with young children as you might end up worrying you’ll miss important milestones.