There is very much a difference between business-travel that may last a day or two or even a week, and the life some business-people must go through who travel continuously for weeks or months on end.  

 

But it is a necessity of some areas of business that professionals--representing that business--do stay out on the road for a very long time.  

 

These road warriors are people who understand the wear and tear that the world can cause on the body, mind and spirit with months of continuous travel.

 

As humans, we are designed to have homes and -to nest.  So 'life on the road' runs against that natural instinct to settle in one place and -to rest there.  

 

So the first challenge of traveling continuously is finding ways to replicate a “normal life” despite the constant travel.  The one factor that can help with combating road weariness is the psychological factor of "familiarity."

 

Because business-persons who travel for many weeks may not see the same people for very long and often move from city to city, the hotels and restaurants eventually begin to blur into one place and the desire for the familiar and “home” starts to make itself known.  

 

So one way to provide a sense of sameness is 'establishing a routine.'  Even on the road, one can establish a routine---something to look forward to each evening.  

 

Whether 'establishing a routine' means watching the same television shows, scheduling your calls home at the same time each day or week or establishing hotel room rituals, maintaining a “sameness”--no matter where you are living at any given time--gives the traveler that sense of normalcy that is missing in a life of nonstop travel.

 

Oddly enough, role models for living successfully on the road are some rock-and-roll bands who have been living such a life for years if not decades.  

 

If you examine their approach to touring, the rock bands that live the traveling-life for very long learn quickly to avoid substance abuse and live a healthy lifestyle.  

 

While the typical businessperson doesn’t have to get up and perform on stage for thousands, it is important to sleep well and see that your digestive systems and -your regularity remain stable during the constant change of travel.

 

'Staying regular' may mean establishing an exercise regime that you simply do not break.  A morning run followed by a sauna and a light but healthy breakfast not only can get  your day off on the right foot, it can confirm your routine and -confirm that +you+ (not the hotel or the changing circumstances around you) are in charge of your lifestyle on the road.

 

Another lesson we can witness from professional musicians who travel a great deal is an intense devotion to professionalism.  

 

The musicians' one-and-only-one 'on the road'-focus is to put on great shows for their fans.  That focus can keep them centered for long periods of time.   

 

We non-musician business-travelers can translate that focus to what /we/ are about as we set out on a long business journey.  By focusing on what we are on the road to achieve and giving 100% of our best efforts, there will be great validation when we find success at every stop along the way.

 

Musicians who learn to survive the road learn to take care of each other and use a sense of family and mutual support to get through a tough tour schedule.  

 

If you are traveling with others from your business, that same mutual support can go a long way to toward helping you each survive the experience.  

 

Talk openly about the challenges of traveling for such lengthy periods of time.  Form an accountability structure to your professional friendships so each of you is looking out for the other.  

 

If you can get everybody out for that morning jog, soon your ability to work as a team goes beyond just how you function during meetings; and you all become a mutually-supportive team---getting through the rigors of an aggressive business travel schedule.

 

By looking at the challenge (surviving the wear-and-tear of the road) as one of life’s great adventures, you can gain an energy and a resolve-to-win each-and-every day of your business-journey.  

 

And the resolve to win will be contagious and will brush-off on your fellow business travelers, which will translate into greater success in your business ventures during the trip as well.