(ARA) – For many business travelers, hitting the road doesn’t ever seem to stop. And the winter months – with bad weather delays and hectic schedules, can make business travel even more stressful than usual. Long lines and delays can cause anxiety and aches and pains, and being away from friends and family feels extra difficult. Either way, being on the road and away from home can make it harder to relax and feel your best so that you have a successful business trip.

Food, fitness, and work/life balance experts at Embassy Suites Hotels’ BusinessBalance.com have excellent advice and tips on how to be a savvy, calm and happy business traveler during the busy winter travel months.

* FitBottomedGirls.com creators Jenn Walters and Erin Whitehead recommend stretching your body. When you get stressed, you probably tend to scrunch your face, clench your teeth and hunch your shoulders. Become aware of your body. Find a place where you can do a few stretches like touching your toes or twisting to one side to reduce tension. And the simple act of relaxing your face and jaw can make you feel more peaceful.

* It can be stressful missing out on time with family and friends while traveling for business during the cold winter months – especially when you’re alone in a strange city, say Michael and Jane Stern, founders of Roadfood.com. In order to feel less lonely, go to a coffee shop or diner and grab a delicious, warm and hearty meal. Being around others in a relaxed, group setting will make you feel right at home.

* Plan ahead for any shopping needs, including birthdays and anniversaries, even while on the road, say ManicMommies.com founders Erin Martin Kane and Kristin Brandt. You can shop online using Wi-Fi, which is becoming increasingly available at airports and even on airplanes. Use plane time to organize and prioritize your shopping list.

* Choose a hotel with amenities that will make you feel more at home. Embassy Suites offers spacious, two-room suites to give business travelers extra space for the price of one standard room, along with a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast so you don’t have to waste time looking for a restaurant prior to conducting your business or other plans for the day. The hotel chain even offers an evening Manager’s Reception with complimentary cocktails to help you wind down from a long day or celebrate a business victory.

* Wake up 30 minutes or an hour before you need to, suggests Roadfood. Even if you really want to get the extra shuteye, use the time to not rush around. Meditate, read the paper and definitely make sure to start your day with a hearty, delicious breakfast that will keep you fueled throughout the morning. The serenity this time can produce far outweighs a few minutes of extra sleep.

* During the winter months, you can pretty much count on flights being delayed or long lines at the airport. Instead of spending the time worrying that you’re going to miss your flight or it will be canceled, Fit BottomedGirls recommends welcoming the extra time to read a book or a magazine, get a fast walk in around the terminal or even strike up a conversation with someone nearby to de-stress. We all rush so much from place to place that sometimes a delay here or there can be a good thing because it forces us to slow down.

Putting some of these stress-relieving techniques to use this holiday season while you’re on the road for business may help you to pass the time more pleasantly until you are back home with your family and friends.

For more tips on how to balance business travel with the rest of your life, visit www.businessbalance.com.