3 Productivity Hacks: Get the Most of Your Business Trip

Business trips are tiring. There is a lot to take care before the trip, and some more still when you get to your destination. Many unexpected situations can occur, and you can get incredibly stressed out about forgetting something or not being well-prepared. The main thing you should strive for is staying productive, as it is all you need when attending meetings. Stay fresh, use the technology you have available to your advantage and try to feel good about your trip, you are visiting a new city after all. You may not have time to see a lot, so use your time wisely, and at least run through some of the major tourist attractions.

1. Be fresh, if you want to stay focused

The most common reason people lose focus on their business trip, and even in everyday tasks, is because they don’t get enough sleep. You need to remember that you won’t achieve anything if you sacrifice your sleep, because you want to get more work done in the evenings. People who often go on business trips usually wake up earlier to finish some tasks before the trip, and think that they’ll compensate for those sleepless hours on the plane or train.

However, this is something that will exhaust you even further, as you’ll rarely be able to get some quality sleep while traveling. If you travel by car than your coworkers will certainly contact you to give them some information or check something; and if going by plane, you will get more tired while waiting board the flight. Usually these flights are short, so you won’t have enough time to sleep.

Get up earlier, not to prepare for a trip, but to have a cup of coffee and a big breakfast. This way you won’t waste your time, so you’ll be fresh when you get to your meeting in another city or country. Being fresh and rested is the key to staying focused and productive, which is essential for these meetings. The most important projects are usually discussed during face to face meetings, so you’ll need to have a clear mind.

2. Technology must work for you

Technology is doing a lot for us, and is saving us both time and money. Because of this, you need to learn how to get the most of your electronic devices. Depending on your job, you need to realize what devices suit you best, and which are essential for your trip. Having a quality smartphone makes a lot of things easier, as you don’t need to turn on your laptop to finish some tasks.

You can read an e-mail, keep in touch with your colleagues via mobile network and internet connection, and even access your company’s files. However, there are things that a smartphone can’t do and are a lot easier when done on a tablet or iPad. If you need to read a larger document, you will get tired of scrolling and you are more likely to stain your eyes.

As a tablet is bigger than a smartphone, you may not consider it, but it is a lot better if you also need to type some documents or read a lot. The iPad 2 mini is usually the tablet of choice for serious business people, as it provides you with everything you need and is really easy to carry. Moreover, its battery lasts for a long time and, as such, will be very useful during the whole trip. As it is a bit pricey, see if the iPad mini 2 suits you or not, and look at different tablets to find something that suits your needs.

By having a tablet with you at all times, you will be able to organize your day more effectively and finish some smaller tasks immediately. Whether you are in a car or on the street, you will be able to finish everything, which will save you a great deal of time and keep you productive.

3. Don’t stress out about some small details

Lack of focus can be caused by being stressed out and nervous, as these feelings will negatively affect both your state of mind and your physical condition. When you are stressed out over your job, you get easily irritated by small details, which are actually not so important. Some of them include the flight being late, waiting too long in a line or forgetting something at home. All of these will kill your focus and decrease your productivity. Being stuck in traffic and waiting for a plane are things you can’t control, so try to relax and use that time intelligently. Moreover, if you forgot something, you can either buy it in another city or, if it is some document, have it sent to you via e-mail but your best bet is to be prepared. Being stressed out won’t get you anywhere, so try to relax in order to be productive.

Smartphones and tablets can help you a lot during a trip, however, they cannot keep you awake if you are exhausted. Therefore, stay positive and fresh in order to get the most of your trip.