As you guys know I travel quite a lot every year. Although I always try travel as much as I can with my family, in fact we have gone to some amazing places together while being on “business”, it is just not always possible to bring them along.

Having recently been in San Diego with the family to decorate our new home there, I had to fly solo for a week long trip to Europe by myself.

I knew it was going to be crazy busy and intense, so I prepared myself for that as best as I could. But the second to last day I was sitting by the sea in Italy having dinner by myself. I was exhausted from the travel and from the late nights, early starts, full days teaching, lecturing and training and from hopping from one country to another.

Well, the exhaustion meant I started feeling a little homesick. I was starting to get pretty emotional sitting in this beautiful and authentic Italian restaurant. I just wanted to jump on an airplane and go straight on home to see my Hubby, my kids and my dog. I missed them so much.

I called the airline to see if I could change my flight and go home early but there was no availability!

I was about to burst out crying in the restaurant!

So after feeling sorry for myself, I decided to just shift everything and focus on being grateful for what I had in my life and for where I was at that moment.

People always ask me how I get everything accomplished as a Mom, while being busy traveling and running my business. The fact is I just have to plan, stay organized and focused and have the right mindset.

But at the same time I still miss my family, get really homesick and I am vulnerable like everyone else. And guess what guys? That is OK.

We do need the right tools though to help us along the way with this journey, so I thought I would share some of those with you for when you are solo and traveling and you want to remain balanced and centered.

So here goes…

Get some sleep – When we are sleep deprived, nothing works well and that is when we can lose it big time. There is a reason why sleep deprivation is a form of torture…it’s horrible. Plan ahead of your trip and understand the time differences. Try to get in sync with your destination time before you leave so your body clock is adjusted by the time you arrive.

Also don’t go staying up late and over doing it when you are out there. I know that isn’t always easy, but be disciplined and make sure you get your beauty sleep in order to stay in balance and have a clear mind.

Eat right – Food is a big one because it can affect our moods and emotions. It is tough trying to eat right when in airports, on airplanes and in foreign countries. I understand the importance of getting my energy, vitamins and minerals from natural food, so before I go I am Googling everything I can for the area I am going to.

That way I can always find my Vegan food, raw food and juice bars. There are more and more of these places opening up and also with Google you can find all sorts of hidden gems out there.

Have you ever heard of mood food? Exactly, now you know how important having the right food can affect your moods, emotions, thoughts and the way you feel.

Surround yourself with the right people – Now this is not something you can always plan ahead but this is something I always advise people about. Grow your network and friendships all the time guys.

I have been doing this for years so I literally know people in every city I travel to in the US and I have so many friends all over the world that I know and trust.

This allows me to hook up with them on my travels, so if I ever need company or need guidance I know I can meet up or chat with someone.

So go out there and create these friendships as you never know when you will need a helping hand.

Plan – I am not one of these people that are obsessive about being organized but I learned my lesson a long time ago. If I do plan and get organized before my trips, then my trips are so much better and easier.

So like I said I plan where I can get my foods as best as possible, I start working into the time zone so I am not a walking Zombie when I get there and try to make sure I am organized leading up the departure. Running a business and having children at home, means I can’t be running around last minute trying to do everything.

So the last few days are important in being able to stay centered and balanced on your trip.

Workout – This is one thing that I am almost religious about. The sooner I can workout when I get there, the better for me. I always pack my running shoes and first thing when I get there I am outside going for run in the local area.

So not only is this getting the toxins and stiffness out of my body from the flight and clearing my head, but I get a sense of where I am and I always stop and grab myself a juice or coffee at the end of my run.

If there is a Yoga studio close by…I am in! The perfect thing to find balance.

On this trip, I didn’t bring either of my gear and it is one of the only times I didn’t and I paid the price!

Connect – So this one is more of a mindful approach. If you’re tired, not balanced and feeling exhausted, things are going to head south pretty quickly for you.

So staying present and being mindful is a huge help.

When I speak of connecting, what I mean is go out there and be fully present in your environment. So often when we are traveling on theses solo trips overseas for business we are so busy, moving from one place to the next we don’t get to see anything.

That is where we need to stop ourselves, slow down the rush and breathe. take in the sights, sounds and smells around us. Connect with the environment and the people.

Be present and absorb the energy. @hayleyhobson (Click to Tweet!)

That way we will always stay in control of mind, emotions and the way we feel.

So next time you are out there traveling solo and you want to stay balanced try these tips.

XO
Hayley

Hayley Hobson is an author, speaker, Kick-A$$ Business Guru, 7 Figure MOM-treprenuer. and passionate about empowering others to live the life of their dreams and is based in Boulder, CO. Hayley creates lifestyle transformations by coaching her clients to become the best WHOLE version of themselves possible. To learn more about her nutritional courses, events, and custom programs, visit hayleyhobson.com or follow her on Facebook or Twitter.