Better Travel Habits: Staying Grounded and Productive in New Orleans
- Brian
- Oct 31
- 4 min read
When you’re living temporarily in New Orleans, whether it’s for a work assignment, a contract gig or a months-long relocation project—the rhythms of life change. Routine can feel slippery. You’re not quite a tourist, but you’re not quite a local either. You’re trying to stay productive, take care of yourself, and maybe even enjoy where you are, all while your routines are upended.
But as James Clear reminds us in Atomic Habits, success rarely comes from grand overhauls. It’s the small, consistent choices, the 1% improvements, that build a balanced and productive life. And that truth applies just as much to a six-month corporate assignment in New Orleans as it does to a permanent home. I recently used the ideas within to strengthen my own habits and figured it would also help travelers adapting to a new locale. So, how do you build habits that travel well.... ones that help you thrive here, not just survive?
1. Start Small: Design Your Environment for Success
Clear’s first principle is that your environment shapes your behavior. If you want to make good habits stick, make them easy. For traveling professionals, that starts with how you set up your living space.
When you’re living at The Geneva House or another furnished rental, take 10 minutes your first day to create “zones” that support your priorities:
A work zone—a clean, uncluttered spot with your laptop, notepads and good lighting.
A wind-down zone—a corner with a candle, book or playlist that signals it’s time to relax.
A health zone—a small kitchen counter setup for easy meal prep or a water bottle always in view.
These cues matter. If your environment nudges you toward your best habits like checking emails from a well-lit desk instead of from bed or brewing a coffee before your first call, then it becomes easier to feel anchored in your temporary space.
New Orleans can easily pull you toward late nights and endless restaurant meals, the key is designing your space and schedule to gently guide you back to balance.
2. Habit Stacking: Attach New Routines to Familiar Anchors
When your usual routines are disrupted by travel, you need new anchors. That’s where “habit stacking” comes in, a method Clear describes as linking a new habit to an existing one.
Here’s what that might look like for a professional seeking better travel habits in New Orleans:
After your morning coffee, take a five-minute walk through your neighborhood to get sunlight and set your focus for the day.
After your first work call, write down the top three things you’ll actually finish today.
After closing your laptop, spend 15 minutes exploring something local—a nearby park, a gallery or even a grocery store with regional favorites.
These small stacks keep your days structured without feeling rigid. They also help you transition between “work mode” and “New Orleans mode,” which can be surprisingly important for mental health and productivity during long stays.
3. Redefine Productivity as Presence
Traveling professionals often mistake being busy for being balanced. But the best productivity in a temporary city comes from presence — doing one thing well, wherever you are.
Try these three mindset shifts:
Work sprints, not marathons. Use 90-minute focus blocks with full breaks in between.
Savor your off-time. A po’boy in City Park or an evening on the levee counts as recovery, not indulgence.
Disconnect to reconnect. At least once a week, unplug from screens and let the live rhythm of the city reset your brain.
Remember: presence isn’t about doing less — it’s about being fully where you are, even if “where you are” changes every few months.
4. Identity-Based Habits: Think “Who” Before “What”
In Atomic Habits, Clear emphasizes that lasting change comes from focusing on identity, not outcomes. Instead of saying, “I need to work out while I’m in New Orleans,” you shift to, “I’m the kind of person who takes care of my body, no matter where I am.”
This subtle mindset shift is powerful for professionals living temporarily away from home. You may be between cities, but you’re still you. The key is maintaining the identity that grounds you.
If you’re a runner, you might map a new route along Bayou St. John. If you’re a home cook, visit the Crescent City Farmers Market and recreate a favorite dish in your furnished kitchen. If you’re a quiet-morning person, find your coffee spot and make it your local ritual.
In a city as vibrant and distracting as New Orleans, anchoring to your core identity keeps you from drifting. You’re not just visiting—you’re living here, intentionally.
5. Track Tiny Wins for Better Travel Habits in New Orleans
When you’re away from your usual support systems, it’s easy to lose perspective. Start a quick “NOLA Wins” note on your phone. Each night, list three things you did right, like a finished project, a new local discovery or just remembering to stretch before bed.
As Clear says, “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” Each of those votes, cast daily, is how you stay balanced, productive and genuinely present - no matter where you unpack your bags next.
Final Thought
Temporary living doesn’t have to feel temporary. With the right small systems, your weeks in New Orleans can feel purposeful, grounded, and even restorative. And the beauty of New Orleans is that it rewards presence, the kind you cultivate one small, intentional choice at a time.
So set your cues, stack your wins, and let this city’s rhythm guide your own. Small habits, big balance — that’s how you thrive in New Orleans. Visit thegenevahouse.com to explore furnished options designed to help you live well, stay productive and build better habits in New Orleans and Metairie, LA.
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