My learnings from two months on the road

We just returned to Austin after a summer of working remotely and road-tripping around the U.S. We spent a month in Wisconsin and another in California, driving between locations and enjoying quality time with family and friends.

We like to apply lessons from past road trips to each new one. This year, a few things stood out:

Be thorough with work plans. I had one in-person work trip, but otherwise, all my commitments were virtual. I always ensured a fast internet connection, a fully charged computer and phone, a quiet space, and a backup plan. Since our schedule shifted while driving, I’d scope out libraries or coffee shops for Zoom calls. After a no-show call cost us time, I started confirming each one. Utilize tools – I sync across devices with apps like Asana to catch up while, say, waiting in line for coffee. A time zone converter tool helps to triple-check scheduling across time zones.
You're taking your life on the road. Looking back, the good memories stand out, but working from the road, frequent moves, and lots of driving add stress to your "life relocation" (notice I didn’t say vacation). On road-trips, personal space disappears. If I felt tired or cranky, I'd meditate, eat a snack, or nap. I loaded up Podcasts that I couldn't wait to listen to. I also incorporated daily movement, even just stretching after long drives. YouTube has post-drive stretching videos I like. One week, when a work trip was postponed, I took the entire week to rest. Give yourself grace – everything is amplified under these conditions.
ChatGPT to the route rescue. Four years ago, we moved during the pandemic, driving from Northern California to Austin through LA, Phoenix, and West Texas. While it was lovely, it was incredibly hot, and LA traffic was a hassle. This year, my husband used ChatGPT to brainstorm alternative routes with cooler temps, beautiful scenery, less traffic. For the same amount of driving hours, we went from Northern California to Nevada, onto Moab, Utah, and finally Santa Fe before heading home. Seeing Arches National Park was such a bonus.
There’s no escaping the heat. The primary goal of this trip was to spend time with friends and family, with the added hope of escaping the Texas heat. However, most places we visited were just as hot, if not hotter, than Texas. That's concerning, which is why I signed up for and HIGHLY recommend New Wave Investment Club's Substack. Liz's monthly newsletter offers angel investment opportunities in climate startups (re: YOU can invest in companies doing great work to combat climate change). Even if you're not ready to invest, you'll learn a lot from her write-ups! Subscribe here.

Have you worked from the road? Considering it? I’m happy to answer any questions you may have.

Warmly,
Jenny

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