The smell of roast turkey and the sparkle of the decorations, the sound of laughter, clinking glasses and excited children playing. Sound familiar? Christmas is the time of year to put your feet up and connect with friends and loved ones. But if you are one of the many thousands of people who are travelling with work this Christmas, then the festive season can be one of the loneliest times of the year.
Here is our UNIGLOBE Total Travel crash course for surviving the trip and staying festive while you are away.
Keep Yourself Busy
If you are preparing for a presentation or meeting, whether or not it is on Christmas day itself, keep yourself busy. Throw yourself into your work and don’t think about ‘missing Christmas’ until your job is completely done. You may find that the more you throw yourself into your business, the more enjoyable and distracting it will become.
Stay Positive
Christmas is a fun and exciting time, but it can be pretty hectic and stressful too. Being away from the drama isn’t all bad. Think positively about all the negative things you will be missing while you are away; indigestion, mountains of washing up, last minute shopping, arguments over the turkey….your Mother-in-Law!
Treat Yourself
Make sure your personal travel items include some special things that remind you of home, which you can enjoy on Christmas Day. Perhaps take a small present to open, some cards or a party hat. Maybe even pack a ‘bad taste’ jumper. Just because you are elsewhere in the world, doesn’t mean you can’t share some personal moments with your family. Most hotels will have Wi-Fi enabled rooms, allowing you to connect with your family via Skype or Facetime. It doesn’t compare to being there in person, but you can still open presents, send greetings and raise a toast through video link.
Enjoy Where You Are
Spending Christmas in another part of the world can be a magical and adventurous experience. When you’ve finished your work don’t be tempted to retreat to the solitude of your hotel room. Get yourself outside and enjoy the local sights and sounds. If you are working in a country that celebrates Christmas, see what different delicacies and traditions you can sample. You never know, you could find something you’d like to incorporate into your own celebrations next year. Accept a hand of friendship when it is offered. It is unlikely you will need to be entirely alone at Christmas. You may find colleagues, clients or associates only too keen to take you under their wing. You may be surprised how warm and accommodating people can be, especially around Christmas time.
Have a Treat to Look Forward to When You Return Home
Feeling sad over what you are missing is one of the worst things about travelling on business at Christmas. Make sure you plan an alternative celebration for when you get back home. This could be another Christmas dinner, a special party, or maybe some quiet time away with your family.
If you are travelling with work this year, you don’t need to have the Christmas blues. Keep smiling and enjoy spending some time where you are visiting
From all the team here at UNIGLOBE Total Travel, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
