Business travel can undoubtedly be exciting, especially if you’re heading to a destination for the first time and have some free time to explore. Still, on the other hand, it can quickly become stressful, too. The stress of business travel doesn’t just affect you physically - it can also decrease your performance and cause you to lose focus on your work if you’re not careful.
Thankfully, there’s plenty that you can do to increase your focus, be more relaxed and get more done no matter where you’re traveling to for business. Follow these tips to minimize travel fatigue and enjoy maximum productivity.
Stay in a Serviced Apartment:
Regarding accommodation, hotels don’t often lend themselves well to business travel, especially if you’ve got to get a lot done. Working from a small hotel room can feel cramped, and if you don’t have great Wi-Fi, you will get frustrated, too. Instead, it's worth staying in a fully furnished apartment through companies such as Blueground so you can enjoy a more spacious and comfortable home away from home.
Their apartment rentals are also ideal if you're traveling with a colleague or two, as you can each have your own room and share the kitchen area and living room for work. These serviced rentals are equipped with high-speed wifi and a range of amenities to help you be productive and get work done.
Take the Right Tech
Make sure that all your technology needs are taken care of before setting off. Consider what you’re going to need to get work done and add it to your packing list. If you are being supplied with technology from your workplace, make sure that the IT department knows what you need to do - writing a report, checking email on the go, or making a PowerPoint presentation, for example. Better to be in touch with them over chat.
This will ensure that they get your tech list right and supply you with everything that you need to get the work done stress-free. The last thing you want is to struggle to get something done because you didn’t bring the right gadgets.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
On the day of departure, give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and wait for your flight. Even if you’re there a few hours before take-off, you can use the time to be productive and get work done; all major airports offer free passenger Wi-Fi, or you could prepare some work to do that doesn’t require you to be connected to the internet.
To boost your productivity even further, it might be worth signing up for an airline rewards program so that you can take advantage of the lounge and work there; lounges tend to have faster and more reliable Wi-Fi, and there are usually free refreshments, which is always a bonus.
Keep on Exercising
When you’re on a business trip and no longer in the same routine that you are used to, it can be not easy to continue making exercise a crucial part of your day. This is especially true if you feel that back-to-back meetings are all you have time for and are working from dusk until dawn.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to make sure that you keep moving. For example, if possible, walk to the conference center or office from your accommodation rather than take a cab.
Or try to get accommodation that offers an on-site gym that guests can use at any time. Even short bursts of physical activity throughout the day will help keep your energy and focus high.
Make Smart Food Choices
Your healthy diet can quickly go out the window on a business trip. If you’re staying in a hotel, you might not have access to the food you usually would, so you end up eating at a restaurant or eating out with colleagues every night. Throughout the day, filling up on unhealthy snacks or heading to McDonald’s for a bite can be easy.
However, eating too much sugar can leave you feeling sluggish and tired, so try to make smart food choices when you can. As mentioned earlier, if you stay in a serviced apartment, you’ll have access to your own kitchen area, which is not only ideal for preparing your own healthy meals but also much cheaper than eating at restaurants or fast food places every day.
If you’re going to have a busy day, take some healthy snacks with you to keep you nourished and your energy high.
Getting fatigued on a business trip is more common than you think, and it’s no joke. You can quickly lose focus when you’re in an unfamiliar place with lots to cram into a few days. Remember these tips to keep your mind clear and energy levels high.
