It’s been about ten years since my spouse Steve started travelling for business. During that time, he went from travelling within North America four to five times a year to travelling the world every two to three weeks. Despite the stresses and strains of this lifestyle, Steve and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this summer. I guess we’ve made it work. Here are 20 things I’ve learned from being married to a frequent business traveller.

20 Things I’ve learned from being married to a frequent business traveller

  1. Sometimes it’s nice to be on your own for awhile. Appreciate enjoying your own company when your spouse is away.

  2. A major appliance breaks, or some kind of crisis emerges only when your spouse is travelling. Count on it.

  3. Despite what you imagine, single friends don’t mind when you ask them out while your spouse is away.

  4. Weekends alone are hardest. Plan something fun to do.

  5. Benefitting from your spouse’s airline frequent-flyer status is a major bonus. Priority boarding and airport lounge access are awesome!

    Learned about business travel - Air India Star Alliance Lounge

  6. Tagging along to under-the-radar cities often ends up being just as good if not better than the iconic destinations.

  7. Skype and FaceTime are the best inventions EVER.

  8. If you’re worried about infidelity (yours or your partner’s) during business travel, it’s likely not the business travel that’s the problem.

  9. Enjoy having the best of both worlds – the freedom that comes with being “single” sometimes and the intimacy of being part of a couple.

  10. The only time duty-free is a bargain is if it’s alcohol (in Canada, at least).

  11. Some people don’t understand how you can spend so much time apart from your spouse and be happy. Don’t bother trying to convince them you are.

  12. Even though time zones make it difficult, you’ve had a busy day, you’re tired, the internet connection isn’t the best, and you think you have nothing to say, talk to your spouse every day when you’re apart.

  13. Tag along on trips as often as you can. Use points, extend vacation time, beg your parents to look after the kids. Maintaining your relationship is worth it.

    Learned about business travel - Steve and Deb

  14. Embrace doing things solo when you’re tagging along. The more you do it, the easier it gets. Waiting around for your spouse in a hotel room is stupid.

  15. Collecting hotel amenities such as little soaps, shampoos, and body lotions can become strangely addictive. Clear out your stash to donate to a homeless or women’s shelter once in a while.

    Learned about Business Travel- Hotel Swag

  16. Make plans to do something special when your spouse returns from a trip. It doesn’t have to be something big but celebrate the reunion and take time to reconnect.

  17. Doing nice things for yourself when your spouse is travelling makes it easier. Cook your favourite foods, eat at a nice restaurant, shop for something frivolous, go to a spa.

  18. Finding a job that allows you to work remotely and tag along on your spouse’s business travel makes life so much better.

  19. Learn about your spouse’s work—read about it, talk about it. That will make it much easier to tag along and enjoy business dinners and industry conferences.

  20. Keep things in perspective. If your spouse travels a lot for business, it’s because you live a privileged life. Always appreciate that. Being separated once in a while is not a real hardship when you look at what many people in the world face.

Does your spouse travel a lot for work? What have you learned along the way?

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