Business travel – bad for your brain?
A new survey suggests that business travellers may be underestimating the negative effects that travelling for business can have on one’s health
The research, undertaken on behalf of five-star corporate hotel The Westin Cape Town, found that only 32 per cent of respondents who travel for business felt that doing so had an impact on their health. Fifty-two per cent did not think that there was any kind of health impact, while 17 per cent said that they were not sure. Sixty-seven per cent said that they felt business travel had at least some effect on their stress levels, though they did not seem to note the correlation between this and overall mental – and indeed physical – health.
However, other questions show that many of these very same travellers were clearly not treating their own health as a priority. Eighty-two per cent said that they slept for less than six hours a night wile travelling for business, 62 per cent said that they slept less than when at home, 40 per cent said that they occasionally exercised while away on business, and only 18 per cent said that they would definitely exercise on such trips.
The findings match up with a number of similar studies that have come out over the last few years, showing that business travellers neglect their health due to the pressures of work. Lack of exercise, disrupted sleep patterns and poor diet can have a major impact on health, both physical and mental, so it is concerning that large percentages of travellers do not seem to notice the link.
Equally, however, travellers’ own experiences cannot be denied – 79 per cent of respondents to the survey said that they ‘really enjoyed’ travelling for business. This shows that while such travel can be unhealthy, it is not wholly negative; hopefully, so long as businesses take their duty of care responsibilities seriously when it comes to their travelling employees, such health impacts can be blunted.
“As we commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month, it is important to highlight the effect stressful business travel can have on one’s wellbeing,” commented Leon Meyer, The Westin Cape Town’s General Manager, “as well as promote the importance of a good night’s sleep, a healthy diet and a consistent exercise regime.”
We at ITIJ quite agree – and we hope that those heading to Malta for our conference next week will keep an eye on their own good health.