Much like a lunch in Yo Sushi!; opportunities in work and in life will be bobbing along on a conveyor belt, and you can either, if you’re anything like me in that restaurant, have a really good nosey at it the first time and grab it if you like the look; you can watch it go by knowing that it isn’t for you; or you can miss it.
Rather than trying to make you crave seafood, what I’m trying to say, is that there are always opportunities in life and I’ve learned that opportunities out of your comfort zone are often worth taking, as long as you can find a way to manage them.
Even if the sushi dish looks horrid, it might actually be the tastiest sushi you’ve ever tried.
Okay, perhaps the sushi analogy only works as far as the conveyor belt, but for the first time, I took an opportunity to travel with my job and stay for two nights in a hotel 180 miles from home.
It was put to me as an optional trip, and initially I accepted, though it did play on my mind as to whether I could handle it.
I’d never stayed in a hotel on my own before.
I’d never travelled with colleagues before for more than a day.
But I did it. I actually pondered it for long enough that eventually it just became too late to back out and cancel the hotel booking for me. So it turns out, my indecision kind of threw me in at the deep end.
I’m going to put it out there that some people wouldn’t take up this opportunity as it wouldn’t be for them, and that’s absolutely fine. I realise that it totally depends on the nature and length of the trip, and personal circumstances and preferences. This is just my personal experience and my tips for anyone who is torn wanting to take the opportunity but nervous to do so.
Get as much detail as you can before the trip.
This negates the “what if” questions. I had the chance in a one to one meeting with my manager to ask about the schedule on this type of trip; who would be going, and exactly where I was staying. This put my mind at ease because I would be one of three, two of whom had been there before, and in a hotel with my own room and space. If this discussion time isn’t already in the diary, perhaps ask if you can put 10 minutes in to discuss the “where” and “when”, and if not with your manager, perhaps with a colleague who has travelled with the company before.
Take a home comfort.
You might not have room for all your home comforts but, however soppy I may now reveal myself to be, I took one of Dean’s t-shirts to sleep in. Another familiar and handy idea is taking a tablet or iPad, or even using your phone, to watch your favourite show on Netflix before going to sleep. This doesn’t even have to be a material object, if a (video) call with someone at home will make you feel better, then give them a heads up before you go and arrange to do so, or your yoga routine keeps your mind at ease; schedule it into your time in the hotel room.
Keep yourself busy.
Whether this is already defined by your work schedule or whether this means planning out your free time to see some local sights, it’s certainly worth making sure you don’t find yourself sitting around, waiting to check out and go home. This was already written into my schedule: I was only ever working, eating or sleeping; but if there’s a free afternoon or even a couple of hours, perhaps find out if there are any local attractions or pretty parks that make for good Insta photos. After all, time flies when you’re having fun.
Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
