We've all done it. Waking up before the crack of dawn, at a time when, not long since, we would be just leaving the clubs and bars. Jump into a hot or cold shower (or alternate) to try to wash the sleep out of our eyes. Walking outside, we take a quick glance at the stars that we so rarely get to see, before we take a seat inside the car, and start wondering how we'll make it back to the driveway that night. Day trips certainly are not fun, but they have seemed to become a necessity for improving productivity ... or have they?
Prepping for a day trip isn't unlike any other trip. Confirm the itinerary, check-in online, review tasks and meetings planned for the day, etc. After spending a full day at work, we go home, visit the family, and perform our typical nightly routine, If we're lucky, we get to sleep slightly sooner than usual, but nothing seems to help with that early wake up call.
As soon as possible, we start the caffeine drip. Where's the first Dunkin' or Starbucks (SBUX) along the way to the airport? As soon as that cup runs empty, we start looking for the next, and the next, and the next, taking small break through security. Boarding the plane we realize all that coffee may not have been a good idea! Not just for the biological implications, but instead of catching a few winks as the engines roar we're wired into a book, magazine, or more likely our paper notes and reports to review.
Next stop, touchdown, and the search for the next source for the drip. Maintaining focus through the meetings is always a challenge. First one down, need more coffee. Time to check the 'Berry for any fires and clean up some junk mail before the next meeting. Second one down ... whew, no more need to stay awake. If there's time, we take a quick walk around to say hi to friends, catch up on projects, and then the pace kicks up running back to the airport. Through security, back to the gate, and back on the plane seat. Will this day ever end? Just a few winks as the plane heads down the runway ... please, I just a bit of sleep to push through.
Feelings of exhaustion and relief emerge as we land back at the home airport, and take the zombie walk back to the car. The desire for coffee hits a new high, while the body hits a new low, but the temptation must be resisted if you are to sleep that night. OK, no coffee, what are the alternatives. Loud music, open windows, and away we go, back to the house that looks no different from when you left ... with the only lights around offered by the moon and the stars above.
Quietly climbing back in bed, feeling the softness of the pillows, the warmth of the blankets and our spouse, we're thankful that we survived the trip, did what needed to get done, and avoided another lonely night in a hotel bed.
Robert Jackson is a systems engineer with Camiant, which makes broadband network management software. He travels frequently for work and writes about his experiences on the road in this column.
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