Managing Managing

I underestimate each year the degree of anxiety which comes alongside the planning and executing of my travel schedule.

And, each time, I am also reminded at how very little people outside my office know about what my job is. I don't make outrageous 3-week vehicle requests because I am selfish.

Why would I want to leave my husband and bed for 3 weeks to live out of a suitcase in big city traffic working 13 hour days?

I love my job, but those are realities of travel season.

I am ball and chain to the almighty college fair schedule.

It's a good schedule, and excellent when organized properly between public and private schools.

Plotting a 3 week venture easily slips you into a coma of stress, though.

I found myself last week unable to continue past a week at a time, taking deep stress breaths all through.

Five minutes behind the call or email from another university and you've lost  your school visit.
One day late scheduling a reception and you've got to work real fast to find an alternative solution that fits with the entire board of trustees, the president of the university, and the calendar of the high school you're working with, each subject to change at any time.
Move too slow and your vehicle request comes in simultaneously to the rest of campus, leaving you car-less.

It's a gigantic puzzle.
Just like a puzzle, this is doable. It requires a meticulous plan, looking at every aspect from every aspect. The management of the project is something which can't, at any time, look the other way.

Every good manager knows, however, that to be an excellent manager, they must have management of themselves. That means self-care, friends.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I found myself hitting the trails in Siloam running off the angst.
Thursday, the hubs and I hit up the town on bikes.

Lots of water, healthy food (mostly), good sleep, and exercise.

Every aspect of me from every angle, just like my master travel plan.
That's what self-care looks like and, while it's easy to slack, taking care of the traveler is just as vital to a great travel season as the route.