Developing a daily routine helps people in recovery stay sober. Business travel interrupts this routine and can make sobriety more challenging at first. By planning and knowing which strategies help you the most, you can successfully travel for business and remain sober.
1. Plan Ahead
Maybe you already have a strategy for staying sober at home. Now it's just a matter of applying that strategy to your travel itinerary. For example, if you maintain an alcohol-free home, call the hotel in advance and ask that your room's minibar be completely alcohol-free or request a room without one. (Don't be embarrassed to make this request; hotels are used to it and won't think twice.)
If certain books or meditation tools help you refocus when stressed, bring them with you. If exercise is part of your routine for staying sober, come up with an exercise plan before you arrive, such as the route you'll run or the equipment you'll use at the hotel gym.
Try to recreate any other part of your routine that's important to you, whether that means finding a great café for your morning coffee or soaking in a hot bubble bath in the evening.