Anyone else hate socialising on work trips?
Discussion
Hi,
I sometimes go away for work and after the day's finished - about 5pm - all I fancy doing is going back to my room, reading, watching TV, maybe going to the gym, a walk on my own or just chilling out.
If I am with colleagues they will often say: "What do people want to do tonight?" and there is a certain amount of pressure (probably of my own making) to join them and be social. I can sometimes make my excuses but it's harder when I don't know them as well and feel a bit more compelled to be polite.
The most difficult occasions are either with clients who we are very friendly/relaxed/informal with who want to take us to a restaurant or something.
It may just be me but I just love the quiet and time on my own after spending all day with them and others.
Anyone else feel this way?
I sometimes go away for work and after the day's finished - about 5pm - all I fancy doing is going back to my room, reading, watching TV, maybe going to the gym, a walk on my own or just chilling out.
If I am with colleagues they will often say: "What do people want to do tonight?" and there is a certain amount of pressure (probably of my own making) to join them and be social. I can sometimes make my excuses but it's harder when I don't know them as well and feel a bit more compelled to be polite.
The most difficult occasions are either with clients who we are very friendly/relaxed/informal with who want to take us to a restaurant or something.
It may just be me but I just love the quiet and time on my own after spending all day with them and others.
Anyone else feel this way?
I'm often the same I do work in a relatively small team of about 12 people and typically anything from 2-6 of us will be away at any one time when needed so it's not like i'm with people i don't know but usually i'll meet up for the evening meal and then make my excuses and go back to my room and watch a film, phone the wife etc.
Felicity28 said:
Mojooo said:
as otherwise I'd be sat alone in my hotel.
I think you missed the whole point of my original post as that sounds like bliss to meI have been lucky, every time we get a work trip my colleague is of the same opinion that we work 18 hour days, eat while grafting and get home to our families a couple of days earlier than allowed for plus we pocket the hotel money and we get to do local jobs on the days we save so end up coining it in at the end of the month.
The only issue is the customer who requests the travel is getting accustomed to getting an unusually large amount achieved in a short space of time, we dont want them to start expecting it all the time, as sometimes you hit snags.
Felicity are you not comfortable just saying I'm pretty f
ked I just want a gym, sauna and an early night?
Maybe lie about an illness or having some urgent paperwork you need to catch up with?
Not drinking on expenses is a good shout, it goes down too easy when someone else is paying for it, and you dont realise it at the time but drinking knocks fk out of your body, I stopped a year ago and the peer pressure to join in gets tiresome, unfortunately it the norm in scotland.
The only issue is the customer who requests the travel is getting accustomed to getting an unusually large amount achieved in a short space of time, we dont want them to start expecting it all the time, as sometimes you hit snags.
Felicity are you not comfortable just saying I'm pretty f
ked I just want a gym, sauna and an early night?Maybe lie about an illness or having some urgent paperwork you need to catch up with?
Not drinking on expenses is a good shout, it goes down too easy when someone else is paying for it, and you dont realise it at the time but drinking knocks f
k out of your body, I stopped a year ago and the peer pressure to join in gets tiresome, unfortunately it the norm in scotland.Edited by OldGermanHeaps on Thursday 11th January 19:29
Felicity28 said:
Hi,
I sometimes go away for work and after the day's finished - about 5pm - all I fancy doing is going back to my room, reading, watching TV, maybe going to the gym, a walk on my own or just chilling out.
If I am with colleagues they will often say: "What do people want to do tonight?" and there is a certain amount of pressure (probably of my own making) to join them and be social. I can sometimes make my excuses but it's harder when I don't know them as well and feel a bit more compelled to be polite.
The most difficult occasions are either with clients who we are very friendly/relaxed/informal with who want to take us to a restaurant or something.
It may just be me but I just love the quiet and time on my own after spending all day with them and others.
Anyone else feel this way?
Yes. So good to know it's not just me!I sometimes go away for work and after the day's finished - about 5pm - all I fancy doing is going back to my room, reading, watching TV, maybe going to the gym, a walk on my own or just chilling out.
If I am with colleagues they will often say: "What do people want to do tonight?" and there is a certain amount of pressure (probably of my own making) to join them and be social. I can sometimes make my excuses but it's harder when I don't know them as well and feel a bit more compelled to be polite.
The most difficult occasions are either with clients who we are very friendly/relaxed/informal with who want to take us to a restaurant or something.
It may just be me but I just love the quiet and time on my own after spending all day with them and others.
Anyone else feel this way?
I'm not lonely when I'm alone. But I am lonely when I'm with a group of people, so I'd much rather be on my own.
Mojooo said:
…otherwise I'd be sat alone in my hotel.
Sounds like heaven. I love a bit of hotel room downtime at the end of the working day. A takeaway, plus a few cold beers from the local Tesco Express & footy on TV. With no need to make polite, stilted small talk to people I have little in common with other than work. What’s not to enjoy? 
I used to Monday - Friday Each week and tried to get out a couple of times, company was nice.
My occasional nights away now are we with people who are comfortable with not socialising or just one drink then back to rooms to chill (our away trips aren’t particularly stressful most of the year)
I am more than happy (and have done when visiting clients in my previous IT career) to pull the Migrane/Upset stomach card if my social batteries have run out.
My occasional nights away now are we with people who are comfortable with not socialising or just one drink then back to rooms to chill (our away trips aren’t particularly stressful most of the year)
I am more than happy (and have done when visiting clients in my previous IT career) to pull the Migrane/Upset stomach card if my social batteries have run out.
Have experienced both sides, used to have a sales role and was away from home 1-2 nights a week, frequently with clients. Sort of industry where you entertain the client and late nights were common. Was lovely when I got the chance of an evening without a client and I actually reached the hotel before 9, IIRC the latest I have actually checked in to a hotel was 0330. Conversely one of the most interesting evenings was in 1998 in a hotel outside Frankfurt (273 flights cancelled that day) with two brits Imet in the queue for the Lufthansa desk (one was a tech support guy and the other ran her own company importing from China) and we had to partake of the Lufthansa provided meal - long story.
More recently, and a different role, when travelling together we used to meet for a meal in the bar then go to our individual rooms. Maybe we were boring sods but I had a hobby which travelled with me (some build logs on scale models) so I was fine. Don’t know what the other guys did and don’t care.
More recently, and a different role, when travelling together we used to meet for a meal in the bar then go to our individual rooms. Maybe we were boring sods but I had a hobby which travelled with me (some build logs on scale models) so I was fine. Don’t know what the other guys did and don’t care.
Felicity28 said:
Mojooo said:
as otherwise I'd be sat alone in my hotel.
I think you missed the whole point of my original post as that sounds like bliss to me
I like nearly all my team but if I'm away at a meeting/conference/whatever it's likely that
1. Ive had a fairly stressful full-on day (after setting off at some unholy hour to catch the first train out of Piccadilly)
2. They're not people I know particularly well
...so I'd much rather get back to the hotel, order myself an Uber Eats, and decompress.
Hate socialising..... ? Would need to be careful in what career you wish to pursue. Some jobs need you all to get on. lol
Well first view of the accommodation and work site.
The access, quite a few floors
Self catering
Living room come kitchen.
Sleeping arrangements, or the Bell Penthouse.
Well first view of the accommodation and work site.
The access, quite a few floors
Self catering
Living room come kitchen.
Sleeping arrangements, or the Bell Penthouse.
Edited by ruggedscotty on Thursday 11th January 21:19
Edited by ruggedscotty on Thursday 11th January 21:21
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