Tips to make driving for work meetings less stressful

[PainPerdu]

As part of my job I have to attend all day in person meetings roughly once a month. These meetings are usually in one of two cities, one of which is a 2.5hr drive from home and the other is just over 3hrs.

I find it really tiring to do a 2.5-3hr drive, sit in a 6hr meeting then do a 2.5-3hr drive home. By the drive home I find I'm struggling to concentrate on the road, and this isn't very safe. If meetings are in the further city I will often catch the train instead, even though that takes 4hrs, as I find it less tiring and safer. But the closer city isn't really accessible by train (it would take around 5hrs and I wouldn't get there in time for the meeting start).

If you do similar journeys for work, how do you make it less stressful? I find the 6hr meetings quite tiring, without the additional 5hrs of driving. There is only so much that can be fixed by caffeine...

I'm not sure you CAN make it less stressful, sorry.

Could you stay over in a hotel one night? To break it up a bit?

Share the driving with a colleague?

premier inn

No colleagues travelling from the same direction.

Hotel is an option, although I would have to pay for it myself for the closer city.

can’t share with a colleague?

Go by train (if possible)?

I don’t believe that this can be done safely. A day like that needs an overnight stay.

If you must travel back the same day I would look at investing in audiobooks. I love them when I am on a long journey and find I am much more alert than if listening to music/radio.

I would definitely do an overnight stay. Even if I paid for it myself in a cheap Premier Inn. Get a really good nights sleep as well into the bargain with no kids / husband around.

worth it op

for you and other road users

Train to the closer city would take >7hrs and I couldn't get there for the start of the meeting.

I sometimes work from an office which is 2 to 2.5 hours' drive away. Like you I could get the train but it would be a ridiculously long journey with cross London changes.

I make sure I've loaded up some interesting podcasts, radio shows or music. That helps a lot but it has to be engaging. I quite like the time alone and sometimes will talk through a presentation or similar to myself.

If I had a six hour round trip I would try to stay over the night before.

Can you drive to a station say an hour away from you and get a more convenient train?

Overnight stay

What kind of company do you work for? My work would pay for an overnight stay for a journey of that length. Last time it was in an Easyhotel. Cheap and cheerful!

I work for the Civil Service.

I'm sure there is some upper limit on miles you are meant to drive in a day for work.

well then you need to suck up the cost of a travelodge or similar op

as i say, for yourself and other road users

It’s not stressful, it’s a safety issue.

Our work policy is that if journey time plus working time is over 12 hours door to door then a hotel is required.
I’m sure either of your journeys would pass that once lunch etc are taken into account. Do the CS not have a travel safety policy ?

My first thought would be to check the policy for overnight stays. 2 hours + would qualify in some workplaces.

If this isn't an option, could you have a break after the meeting before you drive home? A light meal, a coffee or a short walk to feel more alert. Or failing that a nap in the car. I read somewhere that a caffeinated drink followed by a 20 minute nap is a good way to revive you.

I don't see how the distraction of trying to concentrate on an audiobook or podcast whilst already tired is going to make anyone a safer driver.

I have meetings of a similar length of time and in cities 3 to 5 hours away. I always get the train and stay over the night before. Work pays for train, hotel and meals. Hotel and train is paid by them through their online booking system so no claiming expenses for those. I claim expenses for dinner, lunch etc.
I never drive and always work on the train- get loads done.

I have to do 3 hour drives occasionally so 6 hours in a day. I find the best thing is audiobooks because it does make it less stressful. When you hit a wall of traffic not moving on the M25 it doesn't seem like a disaster anymore because you're just enjoying the book.

Factor in regular breaks.

Audio books are great for long journeys, I can listen but not be distracted.

I'd book well in advance and get a hotel, either very close or about 30 minutes away

That definitely seems unreasonable, and I would have a look in your staff handbook / have a word with your manager about the number of hours away from home in a single day. Are you claiming mileage?

Assuming there's no traction at work, I would be looking at a cheap and cheerful motorway hotel somewhere towards the end of the route. Even though my homing instinct would make me want to opt for staying the night before, I think it would be safer to stay over after the meeting, rest and then do the journey back the next day. Incidentally are you claiming overtime for this travel time?

I know the closer city would take too long by train from where you live but is there a station you could drive to that would be on the same line and do a mix of drive and train?