Whether you have been on vacations around the world or never traveled outside your home state, business travel is a new experience. Even very recent hires can be sent on assignment for months at a time. Travel is a major advantage in your career climb, as you make connections with fellow employees from across the country, and prove your ability to deliver complex solutions to business problems. It can also be fun-employees are housed at nice hotels, and a daily stipend allows you to eat at excellent restaurants and explore an unfamiliar locale.

However, constant travel can be exhausting. Eventually, it can get you down but only if you let it. As someone who is on the road a majority of the time, I've learned ways to keep travel from becoming a burden.

• Do some exploring. When you are not required to be at a client site, don't hibernate in your hotel room watching cable television, go out and be a tourist. Do something you couldn't do in the area where you live. For instance, if you're in California, head to the beach. In New York, go see a Broadway show. Be creative--if you should find yourself in Wisconsin, perhaps you could visit a cheese factory.

• Stay in shape. Only when living in a hotel will a health club be seconds away. Taking advantage with some daily exercise will keep you alert. Also, because you won't be cooking for yourself you must vary your diet. You don't have to eat fast food every night-you'll have meal money as part of your stipend and can afford more exotic and healthy fare.

• Practice your hobby. Just because you aren't home is no reason to let your non-work interests slip. Wherever you are you can find people and groups with similar interests. If you like playing pick-up basketball, head to a local playground. If you enjoy more sedentary pursuits like chess, locate a chess club. Whatever your interest, it shouldn't be hard to find an organization in the area tailored to you.

• Establish a routine. Outside of work you can explore and enjoy a new locale, but when it comes to the daily schedule it is paramount that you get settled as fast as possible. Whether it is a doughnut in the hotel lobby or a visit to the hotel gym, preparing for work should have the same ritual it would at home. A client engagement requires quick thinking and problem-solving skills, and when you arrive you need to be prepared.