Wondering how to be more productive from airport lounge to remote meeting? Check out our handy roundup of software for productivity for tips
In the modern world, there are a wide range of tools that can take away some of the inconveniences associated with business travel. While Zoom and Teams are great ways to connect with far-flung colleagues, software for productivity is a potential gamechanger when it comes to ensuring there’s no drop-off in your output while you’re out on the road. After all, there’s nothing like real, live, human facetime to grow relationships and keep employees engaged, which is why business travel is so valuable. But along with all that potential comes productivity-sapping side effects like jet lag – not to mention the lost time spent in transit.
Wondering how to be more productive at work, even when you’re on the road? As with most things, there are a wide range of apps for that very purpose. From time tracking to to-do listing, today’s work productivity tools keep you focused, no matter the location. Plus, they’re also a boon for your health and well-being, helping you avoid the stress of work-related inconveniences while you’re working away from home.
According to NexTravel polling reported in Forbes, nearly a third (31.9%) of business travellers stated that they found it difficult staying on top of their workload during travel. This led to 23.8% feeling the need to work overtime to make up for that lost productivity upon their return – a sure recipe for burnout.
Research conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel found that travellers experienced stress and resulting lost productivity for up to 6.9 hours per average business trip, which is nearly a full workday.
So, what causes this stress? The main issues reported by travellers in this same survey included:
The good news is that with productivity planning, businesses can reduce these travel-related issues that can lead to stress, burnout, and idle time.
A productive day starts with a plan. Here are a few productivity tips for work and travel:
Before travelling, organise your itinerary including all flight, train, car, and accommodation bookings. With travel software for productivity like Booking.com for Business, you’ll be able to store these in the cloud for easy reference from any location.
Flight delays are one of the major causes of stress, but you can minimise this by keeping all your essentials in your carry-on bag while travelling. Travel with any vital work files and equipment as well, so you can stay connected while waiting for delays to be resolved.
Where available in your country, sign up for programmes like Global Entry that let you skip the airport security queues.
Online calendars, notepads, and to-do lists keep you organised without access to your primary office space. If you’re planning a trip for your full team, make sure that everyone’s downloaded the latest updates from your company’s preferred cloud-based work productivity software ahead of time.
There’s a wealth of tools out there to help when you’re tasked with how to be more productive. Typical features include time tracking along with the ability to create and share graphs, databases, documents, and itineraries.
Work productivity software is a broad category encompassing:
While you’ll find traditional desktop software suites, many of the best tools for productivity tracking are available as smartphone apps.
Having a productive day while travelling is a tall order, but these popular work productivity tools make short work of it.
Widely regarded as one of the best productivity tracking and planning apps, Todoist comes in handy for travellers. Think of it as your daily to-do list, powered with the latest technology. You’ll not only be able to list your daily tasks but prioritise them and track progress. A key feature for business travellers is the ability to collaborate with other team members in real time, from anywhere.
Compatible with most devices and platforms, Todoist lets you break your day down into manageable chunks while you’re on the move. The most basic version is free to use, so you can try it out without committing to a paid plan.
Reliable internet access is a must-have when you’re trying to have a productive day, but unfortunately networks can be hit-or-miss in different countries and regions. Wi-Fi Map is a crowdsourced productivity tool, meaning users share hotspots and details. That makes it easier to find the nearest Wi-fi network in your area and stay connected to work, even when you’re travelling to far-flung locations. Finding a hotspot also saves your mobile phone data while keeping roaming charges low.
You might already use Trello within the office as a project management app. However, its simplicity means it functions equally well as a productivity tracking tool. Trello uses a kanban concept with a user-friendly, minimalist board broken up into three columns. The first is a to-do list for tasks in the pipeline, while the second is for works in progress. The third is where you can list tasks that have been completed. Each task goes on a virtual sticky note for easy movement from one column to the next, so you have a good visual overview of what needs to be completed.
Wondering how to have a productive day when you’re stuck in an airport? Maximise that time with Flio. This tool lets you track your flights, giving a heads-up on any potential delays, but it also includes comprehensive airport guides. These break down how to get your airport most efficiently, while giving locations of airlines, their gates, and applicable security checkpoints.
It also covers onsite resources at the airport that you could use for productivity purposes, like meeting rooms, as well as details about showers, lounge access, and restaurants. The aim is to hit the ground running once you arrive at your destination, fully rested and ready to work.
Organisation, communication, or connection… while you don’t need productivity apps, they certainly make life easier as you’re balancing work and travel. Some automate manual processes, like expense tracking apps, while others store important details, like itineraries and calendar dates, in the cloud so you won’t lose them. When you’re looking at how to have a productive day, all these little things add up.
Choosing the right work productivity software depends on your industry, travel requirements, and usual workflow. No matter your needs, there’s likely a tool that fits. Consider the following as you decide how to be more productive at work:
Options like Google Workspace keep you connected with colleagues, while Trello and Todoist keep you on top of your daily to-do lists. Ultimately, there’s no work productivity software that trumps all others; indeed, many of these apps work together with flexible integrations.
If you want to stay in control of travel management, including making travel payments that stay within budget, you may wish to consider Booking.com for Business. With Booking.com for Business, you’ll be able to cut down on travel admin, freeing up time for work-specific tasks. By booking flights, accommodation, and car rental from a single platform, you won’t have to juggle multiple itineraries. Plus, this free corporate travel platform comes with an integrated traveller safety map, so your team will have immediate assistance when and if they need it – cutting down on stress and cost.
When it comes to learning how to become more productive at work, metrics vary. Your productive day while travelling might not look like your office-bound colleague’s. Productivity means making the most out of the time you have, whether that’s using your downtime for self-improvement podcasts or fitting in a quick gym session at the airport to stay focused.
Here are a couple of final tips to help your productivity planning along:
And our number one productivity tip for work? Take a break. It’s easy to forget this one when you’re worried about keeping up with colleagues back home during a trip, but you’ll operate at peak productivity when you’ve had time to rest. Schedule it into your calendar or add a little self-care into your to-do list.
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