Hello all. I was recently offered a position that requires "extensive travel." That seems to mean out of the office 1-3 days per week. I am a single guy, so impact on family isn't a concern for me. However, I currently have work-related travel ~quarterly, and I hate how it fucks my routine. It screws with my sleep, diet, and workout schedule. I'm tempted, though, because it's a 50% increase in pay. I'm fortunate enough that I don't NEED the extra money, but it would be nice. For those of you who must travel frequently for work, is there a groove that you are able to get into? Are you able to eat healthy, sleep well, keep up with your workout routine, and overall remain low stress? Or does it just take a huge toll on your body and mind, hence the the high pay?
ETA: The field is project management, and is a white collar position.
ETA: This article has some useful information.
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[–] tryingthisout [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
What types of hotels do they stay in? I've never stayed at a hotel that had a squat rack, even barbells for that matter. My current company puts me in nice hotels when I travel (Hampton) when available, but in more remote areas sometimes there is only one choice of a hotel, and it's a shitty Best Western or something.
How long have your friends done this for? Do they burn out? Do they plan to continue doing it?
[–] Realirony 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The hotels are the usual rub of the mill ones. Unless they are attending super important kick offs, which is when the company will splurge on 5 stars. But for 90% of travel they stay in Hamptons, Hiltons, Hyatt, etc. The places where if they have a gym its cardio equipment, some dumbbells, and cable machines. If you squat every week you won't find that unless you get a membership to a gym that its national and allows you to enter any of their chain locations. Which you can probably find honestly.
They have been doing it for about two years now. They said it was fun, different, great pay, and a good change of scenery for the first year, but now it's just wearing on them. If your job is anything like a CRA you eventually end up going to the same cities every year, and you get used to it and the excitement just becomes a regular job feeling.
Most CRAs I've known never stay in the position longer than 3 years or so. Mainly because you burn out so hard and it gets really old after the first year. Plus, in clinical research, you keep moving to find better positions, you never stay in one place too long. They enjoy the work and extra money, but they move back into an office job not long after the 2nd or 3rd year
[–] LetsBeNakedOutside ago
You could always look up bodyweight workouts, or get a gym membership at a nation wide place, so you'll have a better chance of getting to a full gym? You could also buy week/day passes at the YMCA, they have squat racks? That party increase should be more than enough to cover it.
[–] tryingthisout [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)
I currently have a membership to a nationwide chain of gyms with 24 hour access, and it definitely helps when I travel. But like the hotel thing, sometimes there just isn't one within 100 miles. Or there is one, but it is 40 minutes each way. The YMCA thing is a pretty good idea though.
Bodyweight workout have their advantages, but the bottom line is you can't do any exercise that approximates a squat or deadlift with heavy weights.