When traveling for business, it’s incredibly easy to just focus on the work and not take advantage of whatever city you’re in. I’ve been on countless AHEHA trips (AHEHA = airport-hotel-event-hotel-airport) as well as a few AEA day trips (airport-event-airport).
I completely understand why this happens, but as someone who is now intentionally living nomadically, I don’t want that to define my experience. It doesn’t matter if I’m in Paris, France or Topeka, Kansas if I never leave the work desk to take in the sights and sounds of my location.
An Early Learning
And yet… my very first trip was nearly this. Sure Cincinnati doesn’t have the same offerings as a place like Seattle, WA, and yes I grew up there (and lived there for 1.5 years after graduating from university (and have been back to the city 20+ times since leaving in 2008)). But I didn’t take advantage of the greatest thing about Cincinnati (just above Graeters): my friends and family in town.
(Note: I did see the most important people in Cincinnati (my mom and brother), but I didn’t see any of my countless close friends.)
It’s easy to say “but I was preparing for being homeless!†But the work will always be there; the opportunity to experience the city I’m in won’t be.
Travel Rule: One Stop Minimum
To avoid this waste of travel benefits in the future, I’ll be implementing a “one stop minimum.†No matter how short (or long) I’m staying in a new place, I want to stop at a minimum of one place that’s part of the culture of that area (either in walking around, enjoying a local meal, or seeing people).
One stop isn’t difficult, it might take only 10 minutes to do (roughly 0.7% of a day) and at least gets me out of the AHEHA rhythm. It’s up to me to manage my schedule well enough that I can see the people I want to see and visit the places I want to go.
(And no I’m not just all of saying this because I’m sad I didn’t get Black Raspberry Chip. It’s a good rule to have regardless of ice cream consumption.)
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