- Drinking significantly more water than you think necessary (aim for 250ml per hour of flight) - Avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which worsen dehydration - Using heavy moisturizers and face masks during flights - Packing a simple skincare routine in carry-on to maintain routine despite location changes

For the weight gain issue, frequent travelers acknowledge this as one of the hardest problems to solve. Irregular meal timing, limited food choices, stress eating, and zero routine make maintaining healthy eating nearly impossible. Some strategies:

- Packing healthy snacks to avoid airport food desperation - Requesting hotel rooms with fridges to store fresh food - Prioritizing protein and vegetables when possible - Accepting that maintaining weight is the realistic goal, not losing it - Scheduling regular exercise, even if it's just 20-minute hotel room workouts

Movement during travel is crucial. Beyond compression socks, frequent travelers recommend walking the cabin every 1-2 hours, doing seated stretches, and booking aisle seats to enable easy movement. Upon landing, even a 15-minute walk can help reset the body.

For the upcoming six-week, four-country summer schedule, the challenge intensifies. At that duration, you need systems, not just tips:

- Establish a portable routine: Same morning sequence regardless of location (even if it's just: hydrate, stretch, shower, specific breakfast). - Pack a "comfort kit": Familiar tea, favorite pillow, white noise app—small things that signal "bedtime" to your brain. - Minimize decisions: Wear similar outfits, eat similar meals, reduce cognitive load wherever possible. - Schedule recovery time: If the employer demands six straight weeks, negotiate a recovery week immediately after.

The mental toll deserves attention too. Frequent business travel correlates with higher rates of anxiety and depression. The combination of physical exhaustion, social isolation (hotel rooms get lonely), and work pressure creates a perfect storm for mental health struggles.

One experienced traveler noted: "The first year of heavy travel is the hardest because you're still trying to maintain your 'normal life' routines. Eventually you accept that this is your normal, and you build different systems."

But there's a darker question beneath the logistics: Is this sustainable? Some people thrive on constant travel. Many others burn out within 2-3 years, experiencing serious health consequences that take years to reverse. Knowing your limits isn't weakness—it's self-preservation.

For the original poster facing this reality, the advice is consistent: take the health strategies seriously now, before problems become chronic. Compression socks, hydration, sleep management, and movement aren't optional extras—they're the baseline for preventing serious health deterioration.

And if the job continues demanding 70+ flight hours monthly? It might be time to renegotiate expectations or consider whether the role is compatible with long-term health. Because the world's most impressive business travel schedule means nothing if your body breaks down completely.