Experts agree it is important for business travelers and their families to establish a routine: whether this means calling home every day or using text and email. Decide what works for your family and stick to it as much as possible.
Establish a routine —
Experts agree it is important for business travelers and their families to establish a routine: whether this means calling home every day or using text and email. Decide what works for your family and stick to it as much as possible.
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Frequent business travelers learn creative ways of staying in touch. Traveling exec Mark Holbrook Skyped into his UK-based family's dinnertime during his lunch breaks in East Coast America: "You can put things in place which help you be in contact and do some fun things as well."
Get creative —
Frequent business travelers learn creative ways of staying in touch. Traveling exec Mark Holbrook Skyped into his UK-based family's dinnertime during his lunch breaks in East Coast America: "You can put things in place which help you be in contact and do some fun things as well."
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Just because you're apart doesn't mean you can't spend quality time together. Holbrook watched an important rugby match with his daughter over FaceTime, maintaining their tradition of watching the sport together.
The advantages of video chat —
Just because you're apart doesn't mean you can't spend quality time together. Holbrook watched an important rugby match with his daughter over FaceTime, maintaining their tradition of watching the sport together.
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Relationship counselor Peter Saddington says couples who spend a lot of time apart need to prioritize and make the most of their time together. "You have to be slightly selfish about the relationship if you want it to be sustained."
Prioritize quality couple time —
Relationship counselor Peter Saddington says couples who spend a lot of time apart need to prioritize and make the most of their time together. "You have to be slightly selfish about the relationship if you want it to be sustained."
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How you stay in touch with your children may depend on their age. Accept that teenage children may not want to chat on the phone -- and understand that for them, texting, WhatsApp or Snapchat might be preferable. "Live chat suits younger people much better," says Saddington.
Choose the communication tools which work —
How you stay in touch with your children may depend on their age. Accept that teenage children may not want to chat on the phone -- and understand that for them, texting, WhatsApp or Snapchat might be preferable. "Live chat suits younger people much better," says Saddington.
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Conversations you have when you are away should be as "real" as conversations you have together. It is important for both partners to feel involved in each others lives. "When you do talk, talk about real stuff," advises relationship expert Dr Wendy Walsh, "Not just small talk."<br />
Keep it real —
Conversations you have when you are away should be as "real" as conversations you have together. It is important for both partners to feel involved in each others lives. "When you do talk, talk about real stuff," advises relationship expert Dr Wendy Walsh, "Not just small talk."
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"I always make sure that all trips that I've got planned are in my personal calendar," explains Holbrook. His family then sync their phone calendars."It just means that people know where you're going to be at a particular time. And I can see where they are as well, so planning family weekends is easier."<br />
Sync your calendars —
"I always make sure that all trips that I've got planned are in my personal calendar," explains Holbrook. His family then sync their phone calendars."It just means that people know where you're going to be at a particular time. And I can see where they are as well, so planning family weekends is easier."
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Ultimately, you shouldn't be afraid to call time on the job if the family is suffering -- or to continue to travel if it is working. Just make sure it's a group decision."It's unique to each couple, family or person," says Saddington.
Do what works for you —
Ultimately, you shouldn't be afraid to call time on the job if the family is suffering -- or to continue to travel if it is working. Just make sure it's a group decision."It's unique to each couple, family or person," says Saddington.
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