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Business travel, while certainly exciting, definitely has its challenges. This statement is true whether you’re traveling in a car, an airplane, a train, or any other mode of transportation. About 80% of employees view the option to work remotely as a job perk, which isn’t hard to see, considering that technology has made it easier than ever to stay in touch and in tune with everything and everyone around us. Still, an itinerary packed with tight deadlines and early wake-up-calls can be difficult to handle without prioritizing your physical and mental health every step of the way. Here are just a few ways to stay productive when traveling this spring.
Set Reasonable Goals
First, it’s important to set realistic and reasonable goals for yourself. Even if you have all the willpower in the world, working in less-than-ideal conditions will only hinder your productivity. With this in mind, it’s also a good idea to consider your method of travel. If you’re the type of person who just can’t tune out sounds and needs a quiet working environment, a limo service may very well be worth the investment. In fact, approximately 50% of limousine service is provided for business and corporate customers during the week.
Of course, experts also say that there could be major advantages that come with making your reservations at the right time if you’d rather fly. About 93% of online experiences begin with a search engine, so if that’s the case, try to be a bit flexible when looking online and comparing available dates and prices, especially during the busiest times of year. This strategy may even work better for your work schedule and help you save money for other travel expenses.
“Be flexible. You’re not going to get a deal when everyone else wants to fly. I use Thanksgiving as an example: Everyone wants to leave the Wednesday before and return Sunday or Monday morning after. The airlines have no incentive to give you a deal. That goes for every holiday, every spring break. If you move up your plans by a day or two, you could save 40%, sometimes even 50%,” John DiScala, aka ‘air travel expert’ Johnny Jet recently told The Associated Press.
Take Advantage of Technology
This may seem obvious, but a surprising number of travelers aren’t fully aware of the countless ways their technological devices can make their excursions exponentially easier, not to mention more productive. If you’re the type of person who’s capable of working on the same project using various devices throughout the day, make sure you’re ready to start working the moment productivity strikes by choosing a software like Office 365, which can be installed on up to 15 devices per user. Don’t forget to keep your devices charged, and bring a backup power supply or power bank so you don’t need to rely solely on outlets.
Stay Calm
As they say, when it comes to business travel, expect the worst and hope for the best. Maybe that’s a bit overdramatic, but just remember that even if you do have a few roadblocks on the way, you can still make the most of the time you have in your destination. Don’t push yourself to reach impossible standards; just let things fall into place as they’re meant to be.
“Flight cancelled? Accidentally reserve a Smart Car instead of a rental van? Instead of having a meltdown, try to calmly look for ways to solve the problem. Anticipate that there might be a few delays or uncomfortable moments during your journey, and resolve not to let them get to you. Attitudes are infectious, and a good one or a bad one can set the tone for everyone on your trip,” writes Lynze Wardle Lenio on The Muse.
When it comes down to it, whether you’re traveling on a mandatory business trip packed with meetings, or you’re simply trying to stay on top of your work during a leisurely spring vacation, staying one step ahead is always your best bet.