Monday, November 1, 2010
Prepare Your Family for Your Business Trip
Nothing reminds you of how much you really do each day more than preparing to go on a business trip. When you start outlining everything necessary for others to do in your place, it just seems endless. Here are some suggestions to help your family make sure nothing is forgotten while you’re away.
Schedule all activities – all those things you keep in your head will have to be written down in detail.
- Childcare during the day. Will your childcare provider stay later in the day until your husband gets home or do you need to ask grandpa and grandma to help out?
- Childcare during the night. Do you need to make arrangements for them to stay at a relative’s house or will the babysitter stay overnight?
- Carpool to and from school. Is there a neighbor or friend that you trust to help out?
- Oversee homework and get lunches packed. If dad isn’t used to doing these things you’ll have to leave detailed instructions for him.
- Doctor or dentist appointments, music lessons, etc. Who’s going to get your children there? Make sure you list each one, with a contact phone number and address with directions on how to get there. Or can you just reschedule them for when you’re back home?
- Make dinner. Put some main dishes in the freezer that can be thawed and cooked or arrange for dinner to be delivered. Make sure the pantry is full of easy to prepare foods.
Leave important contact information – names, phone numbers, addresses and directions on how to get there.
- Your cell phone, name, address and phone number of the hotel you’re staying, and the flights you’re taking.
- Doctor and medical release form
- Pharmacy
- Tutor, coach, dance teacher
- Relatives, friends, or neighbors who can be called in emergencies
- School
- Childcare providers
- Pizza delivery
- Housekeeper
Make goodbyes easier – if you’re ready to say goodbye it makes it easier on your family.
- Don’t prolong the goodbyes. Be as matter of fact as you can and get on the plane.
- Leave your children a treasure hunt –messages or little gifts hidden throughout the house. Each day have the childcare provider give them clues on how to find that day’s gift.
- Send postcards or letters, even if you’re only gone a few days. Send one from the airport before you leave so they get it the next day.
- Set a specific time in evening to call and say goodnight.
Enjoy the time away from home to recharge your own energy. Don’t spend the time away feeling guilty. Pamper yourself with a massage, exercise class, or try a new hobby.
Once you get everything listed, make sure you save the list for the next time you have another business trip. You’ll have to update it, but at least the essentials will already have been covered. Why don’t you ask us at Simplify what we can do to make your life more worryfree?
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