So, I guess most of you know that I am “on the road”. My current job has me touring the U.S. from now until late 2026. Now there are breaks, when I get flown back to home sweet Cincinnati, but for the most part I am living in hotels, buses and planes. So, how to keep one’s sanity in an ever changing landscape? Here are a few tips, at least from my perspective;

1. Find familiarity. Bring as much of your normal routine with you as you can. That doesn’t mean things, though a memento or two that reminds you of comforting people or places doesn’t hurt. I mean habits, lifestyle choices, that sort of thing. For me that’s the gym and/or running. During my 5 weeks in NYC, the gym wasn’t convenient due to my schedule and our location. But luckily, during COVID, when all of the gyms were closed for the better part of a year, I had plenty of practice in “improvisational at-home workouts”. I did what I could with body weight workouts, (pushups, situps, etc) and running, which you can do practically anywhere. Also, I found my local coffee shop / cafe, to go have a cuppa, write my blogs, watch the world go by, etc. And the local sports bar, where I could go watch whichever game was in season and have an adult beverage or two (or so…) I’ll throw in books, Netflix and my music. In general, bring as much of your life with you as you can.
2. Get out! There can be a temptation to huddle in your room. The town is unfamiliar, the people are as well. If your work leaves you with plenty of down time, don’t succumb to the inclination to sit in front of the TV. Proactively research interesting places to go, things to see. Or, as I am more likely to do, walk out the front door, pick a direction and follow your nose. Sometimes it’s boring, sometimes you wander into a very cool adventure. But either way, you’re engaging with the world.
3. Keep / enhance your healthy habits! Just by definition, your lifestyle is going to change. You aren’t sleeping in your bed, eating the same food, participating in the same routine. This can impact your overall health. So be deliberate about your diet, your sleep-time and, for lack of a better term, your happiness. When I start a trip, I start a package of Airborne, the megadose multivitamin supplement. It’s not a regular part of my supplementation, but I think it boosts my immunity when my body may need it most. I take time to de-stress. Whether you call it meditation or just chilling, I think it helps to reduce the stress you can feel when there’s a major change in your life.
4. Be Yourself. If you’re surrounded by a new peer group, that a great thing, and it’s wonderful to interact and share new experiences with them. But keep true to yourself. If their habits aren’t your habits, make choices that work for you. It’s somewhat easier for me, as I’m twice and often 3X the age of my cast mates. I’m not really tempted to try to fit in with their energy and experiences. But I think it’s healthy, no matter what your age or experience, to remember who you are and what makes you happy & healthy.

OK, so ends the lecture. If it applies to you, cool. If it doesn’t, sorry you had to read all the way to here. At least this was a short one.

Talk Later,

Bob