Work travel feels important and glamorous at first. And then, after a while, it’s starts kicking your butt.

Missed connections, bad nights’ sleep, new cities that you can’t even remember all start to add up and make you wish for the four walls you call home.

I’ve been traveling for work about twice a month for the last decade. It took me longer than I’ll admit to learn planning and preparation is what makes work trips enjoyable. But it’s the right kind of planning that counts.

Today’s Free Game Fridays is my Frequent Flyer Method. The steps I take before I book, in the air, on the ground, and after I get back home to make my work trips actually work for me.