👋 Hey Reader!
Here’s what I’ve got for you in today’s issue of WFH Dads:
- Work trips as a WFH Dad – What to do before, during, and after
- What I’m
- Recent issues you may have missed
Work trips as a WFH Dad – What to do before, during, and after
On Friday, I got back from a 6-day work trip. My company, Kit, has two all-team retreats a year. This one was in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico 🇲🇽.
When you work from home, a work trip hits differently.
Your family is used to you being there—helping with school drop-offs, bedtime, or just being around for the small moments.
And suddenly, for a week, you're gone.
It’s not just an adjustment for them—it’s an adjustment for you, too.
You’re stepping into a world of in-person meetings, social events, and structured schedules, often in an environment completely different from your usual routine.
For me, work trips always involve seeing colleagues I never interact with in person. As a fully remote employee, these retreats are my only real face-to-face time with my team.
I won’t pretend that having a plan makes these trips easy—but it definitely helps.
Over the years, I’ve developed a system to make these trips smoother for my family, help me stay healthy while I’m away, and ensure I come back ready to be present.
Here’s what I do before, during, and after a work trip.
Before: Set your family up for success
✅ Communicate early
As soon as I know my trip dates, my wife and I discuss travel details, including flight times. An early-morning departure might mean we need extra help with school drop-offs, while a late-night return means I’ll need to catch up on sleep.
✅ Arrange support
We’ve tried different solutions depending on availability: having her parents come stay, using PTO to adjust her work schedule, or enrolling the kids in extended care at school. The key is not leaving this up to chance.
✅ Make it fun for the kids
I always write a small note for Audrey, Tam, and my wife Sara to find while I'm away. Something simple letting them know I miss them, love them, and will see them soon.
This time, I also asked my daughter if she wanted to send one of her stuffed animals with me on my trip. I took pictures with her Minnie doll in different places and texted them. I asked Tam (2) if he wanted me to bring something but he got upset every time I grabbed one of his stuffed animals 🙃.
✅ Prepare for smooth travel
Before I leave, I reinstall Slack—not because I want to be plugged into work, but because it’s our main way of coordinating meetup spots, schedule updates, and where people are hanging out.
I also download airline apps, take screenshots of my boarding passes, and ensure my passport details are saved in my password manager—just in case.
During: Stay balanced & present
Once I’m there, it’s easy to slip into all-access mode—overeating at meals, staying up late to socialize, and checking in with my family less than I’d like. So I put a few simple guidelines in place:
🛏️ Stick to a sleep routine
I aim to be in my room by 9:45 and in bed by 11:00. The FOMO is real when you know folks are still hanging out and playing games, but I’ve learned I function way better when I get solid rest.
🏃 Move every day
On this last trip, I ran with colleagues before breakfast. It was a great way to connect while keeping up my routine. Even if it’s just a short workout, daily movement makes a difference.
🥗 Eat (mostly) like a normal person
At past retreats, I’d treat every meal like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Now, I limit myself to one plate per meal and enjoy dessert without overdoing it. This small tweak keeps me from feeling sluggish (and from eating 4,000+ calories each day).
☕ Be mindful of coffee & alcohol
I don’t drink coffee past noon, even on retreats, because I know it’ll mess with my sleep. And while social drinking is part of these events, I stick to two or three drinks max throughout an evening. Though my I did notice I had less 'deep sleep' according to my Oura ring the nights I had 3 drinks.
📱 Check in with home
I send Marco Polo video updates, take photos of my daughter’s stuffed animal in fun places, and FaceTime at least once a day when schedules align. Staying connected helps everyone feel less of the distance.
After: Unplug & rebalance at home
The worst thing I can do when I get back? Walk in the door exhausted and disconnected.
So I make a few intentional moves:
🔕 Delete Slack from my phone
It’s tempting to keep it, but I’ve learned that even on weekends, if it’s there, I’ll check it. So I remove it entirely.
😴 Give my wife a break
She’s been solo-parenting all week. For the first few days after I return, I take over mornings so she can sleep in or have time to herself.
🌍 Plan her trip, too
I get to travel for work multiple times a year—often to great locations. So we make sure she gets her own time away, whether it’s a weekend with friends or a longer solo trip.
Your Homework
If you’ve got a work trip coming up, take five minutes to plan for it now:
✅ Before: Have you communicated your travel dates to your family and planned for any schedule changes?
✅ During: What’s one habit you want to stick to while traveling—better sleep, exercise, or mindful eating?
✅ After: How can you make re-entry easier for your family (and yourself)?
A little planning goes a long way.
What I'm thinking about:
Family age chart
This chart was at the back of the book 'Habits of the Household.' The author plotted out what ages he, his wife, and his kids would be over the next 40 years.
What year would they be done with diapers?
What years would be prime for family trips?
What year do they become empty nesters?
This really helps bring things into perspective. It helped me slow down this morning and enjoy time playing with the kids before I took them to school. It made me think about what I'd love to do during our 'prime years for family trips.' It made me realize we'll be empty nesters before we're ready.
I plan on writing a full newsletter issue about this soon.
Catch up on recent issues:
If you’ve found ways to make work trips easier on your family (or yourself), I’d love to hear them.
Reply and let me know.
Thanks again for being a part of this community!
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Thom Gibson
Founder of WFH Dads
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