Working life is an increasingly international affair.  For instance, a study last year by Rice University, Columbia University and the University of North Carolina highlighted the benefits of internationalism to us as professionals.

The study found that living abroad encourages us to reflect on the norms and values of both their home and host nation.  This period of reflection help people to better understand and define the values that reflect who they are.

“In a world where living-abroad experiences are increasingly common and technological advances make cross-cultural travel and communication ever easier, it is critical that research keeps pace with these developments and seeks to understand how they affect people,” they explain.  “Our studies demonstrate that living abroad affects the fundamental structure of the self-concept by enhancing its clarity. The German philosopher Hermann von Keyserling wrote in the epigraph to his 1919 book ‘The Travel Diary of a Philosopher,’ ‘The shortest path to oneself leads around the world.’ Almost 100 years later, our research provides empirical evidence in support of this idea.”

A nomadic lifestyle

This globetrotting is perhaps taken to extremes by digital nomads who hop from country to country, working in cafes, co-working spaces, even hostels as they go.

Such is the rise in popularity of the nomadic lifestyle that companies like Jobbatical and Spotahome have emerged to service this market, with the latter recently ranking the best cities in the world for digital nomads. The rankings were compiled based upon a number of factors, including number of coworking spaces, acceptance of migrants, property rental prices and average internet speed.

There are a huge number of advantages of such a nomadic lifestyle, with INSEAD’s Linda Brimm suggesting three core elements of any global cosmopolitan:

• A growth mindset – this is something examined in great depth by Stanford’s Carol Dweck, and can be characterized as a belief that intelligence can be developed, and a desire to learn new things, embrace new challenges and generally persist in the face of setbacks.
• A global mindset – which is defined as the ability to see and understand the world from multiple perspectives.
• A creative mindset – the last characteristic is one that is defined by attitudes such as curiosity and a tolerance for ambiguity.

Smarter travelling

It’s a lifestyle that is not without risks however, not least in terms of ensuring you get the right amount of sleep as you hop from place to place, timezone to timezone.  Indeed, recent research from Duke Health and the Duke Clinical Research Institute reminds us that a regular sleep pattern is just as important as the amount of sleep we get.

The researchers analyzed nearly 2,000 adults to explore the impact their sleep patterns had on their health.  The results are shocking, with the authors claiming that irregular sleep patterns are associated with higher weight, blood sugar, blood pressure and risk of heart attack.

A number of interesting startups have emerged to help us tackle the problems associated with jet lag.  Foremost among these is Timeshifter, who were recently a finalist in the AXAPPP Health Tech & You competition.

Jet lag is a problem that affects around 93% of travellers, and the disruption extends beyond our productivity into our overall health and wellbeing. The app was based upon research undertaken by Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Steven Lockley, and aims to guide and prompt users before, during and after they travel so that their sleep cycles adapt as well as possible as they travel.

The prompts revolve around the circadian rhythm that helps to regulate our internal body clock. You begin by inputting your normal sleep schedule into the app, along with your travel plans and whether you’re a morning or evening person. The app then provides you with prompts advising you when it’s a good time to get a nap, drink some caffeine (or not), or expose yourself to day light.

The team say that they’ve worked with everyone from executives to motor racing drivers so that they can maintain their alertness and productivity as they traverse the globe.

When I tested it myself on a number of trans-Atlantic trips, the tips seemed intuitive, although as with any changes to one’s routine, it will inevitable take a few attempts to truly internalize their suggestions.  It’s perhaps something to persevere with however, and the freemium model allows you to test it out the next time you travel anywhere for a prolonged period.