Carrying On: Lessons Learned from Tech Travel

Given by Kara Sowles at Donut.js in Portland, Oregon, August 2017.

This talks is about tech travel ⚡️ burnout ⚡️ the dangers of advice ⚡️feelings ⚡️ travel tips ⚡️

See the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOs8hYJ8s-4

Transcript

1. Carrying On: Lessons Learned from Tech Travel KARA SOWLES @feynudibranch if you like twitter ✨
2. Traveling Photo by Hamza Butt / CC
4. "Wow, you must have so many free miles on your account from all that travel!"
5. "Ahh, the food in that city is so amazing. Where did you eat? Did you eat at [restaurant]?"
6. I'd admit "Yeah, travel can be a little...overwhelming." They'd say "Same! You need these noise-cancelling headphones - they're a must-have when traveling."
7. "Where did you just get back from? You must have had a great time!"
8. [isolation and crying]
9. GREAT
10. I had burned out.. Photo by Davide Barni / CC
11. Burnout? Signs of physical and emotional exhaustion: Chronic fatigue Insomnia Forgetfulness/impaired concentration and attention Physical symptoms Loss of appetite Anxiety Depression Anger Signs of Cynicism and Detachment: Loss of enjoyment Pessimism Isolation Detachment Signs of Ineffectiveness and Lack of Accomplishment Feelings of apathy and hopelessness Increased irritability Lack of productivity and poor performance From The Telltale Signs of Burnout...Do You Have Them? By Sherrie Bourg Carter in Psychology Today 2013/11/26
12. Jetlag symptom #1
13. Other symptoms Other symptoms of jet lag can include: • anxiety • clumsiness • confusion • constipation • diarrhoea • difficulty concentrating • feeling disorientated • generally feeling unwell • headaches • indesgestion • irregular periods in women who travel frequently • irritability • lethargy (lack of energy) • lightheadedness • loss of appetite • memory problems • muscle soreness • nausea • sweating Symptoms can last up to six days for some people who've flown across nine or more time zones, particularly in an easterly direction.
14. “[Business travel] has a wide range of physiological, psychological and emotional, and social consequences that are often overlooked, because being a ‘road warrior’ tends to get glamorized" - Scott Cohen in Why Frequent Business Travel Is So Bad for You, Fast Company, Sept 9th 2015
15. From Why Frequent Business Travel Is So Bad for You, by Michael Grothaus in Fast Company, September 9th 2015
17. They packed I packed
18. Advice? Expectations? Assumptions?
19. What helped me?
20. TRAVEL TIPS THINGS I LEARNED THAT HELPED ME PERSONALLY
21. Replicate what you love at home gardens What relaxes you at home?
22. What is consistent?
23. Food It's okay to order room service It's okay to eat at the closest place It's okay to not track down the local delicacy There is no pure, perfect experience you need to live up to
25. Reading a book or phone in a restaurant isn't rude or weird This could be u and a book Photo by Michael Rys /CC
26. "What would our CEO do?"
27. TOOLS
28. Trip Advisor is Easy Research
29. V for Wiki see nearby things that have wikipedia pages
30. I LOVE POUCHES Photo by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos / CC
31. I LOVE POUCHES Photo by Fir0002/Flagstaffotos / CC
32. clothes jewelry makeup menstrual pads cords + electronics accessories ?
33. Other tools I personally love Medium size purse with cross-shoulder strap; by Pixie Mood (vegan!) Rick Steves guidebook I'm not ashamed WhatsApp / Signal / any app to text friends pictures on wifi
34. What else can we learn?
35. Written clarity in Company Policies benefits junior, marginalized, and honest employees the most. And, y'know, the opposite.
37. Let people assign value to their own experiences for example… Leaving a company A breakup or divorce A new boss A diagnosis None of these things are inherently good or bad - so when I don't have the personal context about their situation to make an informed guess, I ask before I react.
38. Learn to offer advice without doing damage Ask permission: "Are you looking for advice on that?" Get personal rather than prescriptive: "I was in a similar situation once…"What Ask open-ended questions: Give them an opportunity to talk it through Keep privilege and diversity in mind: Everyone's situation and solution is different They're in control: Give advice and then move on
39. I DONT TRAVEL ANYMORE SO I GOT A DOG!!!!!! I love her so much
40. Thanks! Thank you to friends who made contributions to this talk: ✨ Tiffany Longworth (wrote the title pun) ✨ Andrea Horbinski (advice on advice) ✨ Annalee Flower Horne (advice on advice) Thanks to my many supportive and kind friends who offered to help - except I didn't finish in time to get edits or help - next time!✨ My name is Kara Sowles I work at Puppet in Portland (and I love it there) I'm on twitter as @feynudibranch Thank you Donut.js for hosting this talk! Donut.js in Portland is my favorite meetup and I highly recommend it! shrug