Don’t Let Illness Slow Your Business Travel
It’s that time again: allergy season. 
Across the country, pollen is flying, attaching itself to anything that will sit still long enough.
Your travels for business are likely to take you places where allergies will inevitably crop up.
The last thing you need is to fall ill while trying to make all your meetings.
Take a few of these tips to stay well while traveling and your productivity will never suffer.
Constant Hand Washing
You’ll pick up germs absolutely everywhere you go, so be prepared to wash your hands all the time. You can find soap sheets for those times when suds aren’t readily available or simply carry some antibacterial gel or wipes with you.
Wipes are a great idea, because you can clean your general area while waiting. You may feel self-conscious about your constant hand washing, but isn’t that better than a bad cold?
Plenty of Fluids
Airplanes are notorious for causing dehydration, especially if you choose one of the alcoholic beverages that are available. Instead of calming the nerves with a glass of wine, choose water or orange juice.
Water is always the very best choice to stay hydrated, but orange juice contains vitamin C, which helps fight off illness. Keeping hydrated is one of the easiest ways to ward off allergies and colds, so always grab a bottle once you’re past the security checkpoints. That way you don’t have to wait for the flight attendant to come back.
Avoid Crowds
It may seem silly to consider avoiding crowds in something as crowded as an airport, but the prospect really isn’t as difficult as it sounds.
There are times when you’ll be packed in with everyone else, but keep an eye on the empty spaces. Is the gate next to yours a ghost town? Move over there to wait for your flight.
Do you have a membership to one of the executive lounges? If not, consider a day pass to stay away from potential problems. If you’re paying attention to your surroundings, you’ll find plenty of places to camp out without sharing space without someone else.
Get Plenty of Rest
Even if you do happen to succumb to your allergies or catch a cold, there’s no better medicine than plenty of rest. You’re a busy executive with back-to-back meetings, but you must carve out some time to sleep.
Get at least eight hours while you’re fighting off the sneezing and stuffy nose. If you really want to prevent the illness, go ahead and start squeezing in some extra sleep now. A well-rested mind and body will be much stronger when attacked by germs.
Pack a Change of Clothes in Your Carry-On
If the clothes you pack are stored in a zippered compartment to protect them from germs, you’ll be able to put on a fresh shirt and pants right away.
This may seem like a silly thing to do, but the truth is you’ll carry other people’s germs all day if you don’t change. Make sure you store the other items safely until they can be laundered and wash your hands thoroughly.
Some of these may sound a little over the top, but nothing is too silly when your health is involved. In addition to these things, make sure you always have throat lozenges, painkillers, allergy medication, tissues, and anything else that might make your trip a little easier.
The most important thing is that you stay healthy while on the road or in the air so your productivity never suffers.
Photo Credit: Flickr - Jim Lukach
