Productivity Tips for Business Travelers
In the ever-evolving, fast paced world of business, travel is often a necessity for continued growth and success.
One of the biggest challenges faced by the corporate traveler is the quest to remain productive while on the road despite the inevitable stress that all too often results from managing a tight schedule of meetings, dinners and impending deadlines.
Even in an unfamiliar environment, you can give yourself an edge and remain focused on your objectives by incorporating the following ideas into your business travel routine.
Sleep is Your Ally
One of the most important ways to boost productivity while on a business trip is to ensure that you get an adequate night’s rest.
With a bit of pre-planning, you can take a proactive approach towards better sleep by locating and choosing a hotel with high quality beds that suit your preference for firmness and comfort as well as those that offer a personalized selection of pillows. You will thank yourself as you doze off into a deep, satisfying sleep instead of tossing and turning for hours.
Unfortunately, as a corporate traveler, you can’t always count on the comforts of home in your hotel room. You can, however, be prepared to counter sleep deterrents such as outside noise and light, unfamiliar sleeping environments, and varied sleep hours by investing in a quality set of earplugs and a sleep mask.
A Little Relaxation Goes a Long Way
Sidestepping stress-related burnout while you are traveling will do wonders for keeping your productivity level optimal, and it’s easier than you might think. The key is balancing the hectic schedule and hard work with a bit of downtime that allows you to relax.
Do a bit of online research before your trip or ask the hotel concierge to help you locate nearby relaxing activities that compliment your tastes and style. A massage, a round of golf or a visit to a local vineyard are all examples of simple and effective ways to relax.
You’ve worked hard to represent your business, so make the time to unwind, and discover how a bit of fun and relaxation can leave you feeling surprisingly refreshed and newly productive.
Employ Apps that Work in Your Favor
Another way to increase productivity while traveling for business puts our world of advanced technology to work for you while away from your normal office.
It can certainly seem like an inconvenience when printers, fax machines, and important papers aren’t at hand, but there are numerous apps that can simplify business communications for the corporate traveler.
Consider installing and using apps like BaseCamp which lets you keep on top of projects from the convenience of your laptop or tablet. The TurboScan app is designed to let you scan and upload documents to your mobile device, while CardMunch allows you to convert pictures of business cards into contact information in your mobile device for easy access and later reference
Make the Most of Your Commute Time
The disadvantages of a long commute or traffic-filled trip to the airport can be efficiently countered when you use a San Francisco chauffeured car service. When sitting in the midst of rush hour traffic, it’s tempting to either lose yourself in stressful thoughts of project deadlines or succumb to the frustration of the lengthy ride.
Instead, book a limo to a Bay Area airport and use this valuable time to tackle tasks such as confirming tomorrow’s schedule, delegating tasks and planning workflow. This is also a prime time for returning emails and phone calls to associates and clients. By letting a professional chauffeur take the wheel, the worry of navigation becomes, instead a golden opportunity to increase your productivity while traveling for business.
