• Challenges
• Practical Hands-on Activities
• POV (Point of View)
• Hacks and Practices
• Action Planning
• Connection & Community.



CHALLENGES – The Unexpected on the Road

1. Recall an Unexpected Challenge: Think back to a work trip where something didn’t go as planned—this could be anything from a minor inconvenience to a significant obstacle. Describe what happened and how you reacted, both emotionally and practically. What did you learn from the experience about how you handle surprises on the road?
2. Analyze Your Response: Reflect on your reaction at the time. What strategies or personal strengths helped you adapt, and were there factors that may have held you back? If you could revisit that moment, what advice would you give yourself for managing the situation differently?
3. Consider Alternative Approaches: Challenge yourself to think about other ways you might have responded. What alternative actions could have led to a better outcome? Use this reflection to identify strategies that could be useful in similar situations in the future.
4. Develop a “Plan B”: Create a Plan B for common unexpected situations you may face in future trips, such as equipment issues, logistical delays, or managing personal stress. How does having this Plan B affect your confidence and sense of preparedness for upcoming trips?
5. Document Your Plan: Write down your Plan B, outlining clear steps and responses for a variety of potential scenarios. This proactive plan will serve as a guide to help you feel more secure and ready for life on the road as a trainer.



PRACTICAL HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

1. Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine you’re preparing for your next work trip. Visualise your ideal trainer's backpack.
2. Reflect on its contents - what is in there? Is it all work-related items like markers, sticky notes, or notebooks? Or do you include personal things that help you relax, such as a favourite book, a travel pillow, or a special snack?
3. Now, sketch or write down what you imagine. Be as detailed as possible. This is your personal toolkit for success, both as a professional and as a person who also needs balance and comfort on the road.
4. After you are done, reflect on how these items support your effectiveness as a trainer and as an individual on the go.

• Compare prices on Skyscanner from different countries (e.g., Skyscanner Austria and Skyscanner Ireland).
• Browse Fly4Free for travel deals.
• Explore other travel websites you may know and compare prices.

• How does the process of preparing your "trainer's backpack" reflect your needs as both a professional and a person on the move?
• What tools or strategies did you find most helpful in planning and organising your travel?
• How does being proactive about your travel arrangements (like comparing prices or using a packing list) affect your overall travel experience and mindset?
• What are some changes you might make in the future to your travel preparation process to reduce stress and increase comfort?
• What are the essential items that you always include in your backpack? Why are they important to you?
• Are there any non-tangible "things" you carry with you on your work trips, such as routines or habits, that you always follow that help you feel prepared?



POV – Balancing Personal and Professional Life on the Road

• Reflect on Personal Balance: Set aside a quiet moment to think about your last few work trips and the ways you balanced personal life with professional duties. Identify any routines or practices—such as calling family, practicing a hobby, or taking breaks—that helped you stay connected to your personal life. Write down three of these practices that contributed to your sense of balance.
• Identify Challenges: Next, consider aspects of these trips that added stress or made it difficult to maintain balance. List three specific factors that pulled you away from this balance. What challenges do you commonly face in trying to attend to both personal needs and professional responsibilities on the road?
• Assess Impact: Reflect on how being out of balance during work trips affects your effectiveness as a trainer or facilitator. What impact does it have on your work, and why is maintaining personal well-being important for your role? Use this insight to identify what you can do differently to prevent imbalance.
• Plan Intentional Actions: Based on your reflections, create a plan to be more intentional about balance on future trips. Write down specific actions or strategies you can implement, such as setting aside time for personal practices or establishing clear boundaries, to support your well-being on your next work trip.
• Establish Boundaries and Habits: Finally, think about the habits and boundaries that would help maintain this balance. What specific routines can you commit to, and what boundaries can you set to protect your personal time? Document these as part of your travel routine for future trips.



HACKS AND PRACTICES – Essential Travel Tips for Trainers



• Buying Tickets - Planes
• Travel Insurance
• Luggage
• Packing
• Frequent Flyer Programmes
• Airport Lounges
• Trains
• Buses
• Sleeping on the Road
• Walking
• General Travel Tips
• Training Facilities
• Accommodation.

• Identify Your Top Travel Hacks: Think about your three go-to travel hacks—these might include packing strategies, ways to manage travel fatigue, or routines that keep you energized. Write them down, and reflect on why they work for you. How do these specific practices help make your work trips more efficient, comfortable, or less stressful?
• Evaluate Their Impact: Consider how each of these hacks supports your well-being, productivity, or overall comfort while on the road. What aspects of these practices contribute most to keeping you “on top of your game” during travel?
• Explore New Strategies: Choose two new travel hacks from the resources provided in this module that you haven’t tried before. Plan to test these on your next trip to see how they affect your routine and overall travel experience.
• Assess the New Hacks: After trying the new hacks, reflect on their effectiveness. Did they make a positive impact? Consider if these hacks might be worth adopting or if they could be adjusted to better fit your style and needs.
• Incorporate Insights: Reflect on how learning from others’ travel practices has influenced your approach to work travel. How does incorporating or adapting others’ strategies add value to your own travel routine, and in what ways does it enhance your experience on the road?



ACTION PLANNING: Putting It All into Practice

• Stop: What are habits or practices that are not serving you well on your life on the road as a trainer? (e.g. overpacking, accepting draining travel itineraries)

• Continue: What is working well for you that you should keep doing? (e.g. morning routines, effective packing strategies)

• Start: What new habits or practices do you want to implement to improve your travel and working abroad experience? (e.g. setting aside self-care time, getting lounge access, insisting on single room at job assignments)

• Do More Of: What positive behaviour could you increase to make your work trips even more effective or enjoyable? (e.g. networking with peers, staying active)

• Do Less Of: What should you reduce to avoid burnout or stress while travelling? (e.g. overworking on the road, saying yes to projects that include travelling and working abroad)

• What have I learned from this module that I am excited to put into action?
• How have my perspectives on travel and life on the road evolved?
• What are the main changes I am committed to making in my work and life on the road?

1. What goals do I have, what do I want to achieve, what do I want to change?
2. What concrete steps will I take to reach each of these goals and implement these changes I want to achieve?
3. What resources or support do I need for that? Identify any tools, apps, or help from peers you might need to achieve your goals. (e.g. using a packing app, subscribing to a travel deal newsletter or asking a colleague for recommendations on staying healthy while travelling.)
4. What is my timeline? Break down your action plan into smaller tasks with deadlines. Make sure to also put actions for THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK, because the change starts now! e.g. purchase travel-sized toiletries, download a workout app for hotel exercises, research new travel hacks, get lounge access, …
5. What specific progress markers will I use to evaluate my success in making these changes? How can I tell that I have been successful in changing? (e.g. “I will track my energy levels, mood, and productivity on trips to see if my new routines are helping.”) Put important dates of your action plan, as well as regular check-ins, in your calendar:
6. Put important dates (e.g. milestones, deadlines or action items) of your action plan into your calendar .Set a reminder in your calendar to revisit your action plan in regular intervals. Reflect on what is working and what needs adjustment. If you have regular working colleagues, involve them in your planning and monitoring.



Connection and Community

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