Staying productive while you’re traveling for work feels like an almost-impossible feat. Fear of showing up to business meetings unprepared with dozens of unanswered emails in your inbox can lead to a stressful business trip that leaves you feeling much more unproductive than necessary. Worry no more, because here are five tips that will help you stay on top of things while you’re traveling.
1. Choose the Right Airline
It all starts with the airline you are traveling with. Choose one that meets all your needs with features, like free Wi-Fi, charging stations and VIP lounges that let you get some work done while waiting to board the flight. It also helps if the airplane is also equipped with Wi-Fi and plugs so you can keep all your gadgets charged during your flight.
2. Back Up Your Files
Make sure all of your files are backed up before you leave for your trip. You don’t want to be left stranded without an important document, so make use of USB keys and external hard drives. Cloud tools like Google Drive and Dropbox can also be helpful for frequent flyers, because they allow you to easily collaborate with your team.
3. Delegate Before You Leave
Stop being a control freak and delegate tasks before you leave for your business trip. The team you work with is there to support you, so hand out a few tasks before you leave. This will help you concentrate on the important stuff, and will help ease a bit of your stress.
4. Choose a Business-Oriented Hotel
Choosing the right hotel is just as important, if not more important, than choosing the right airline. Pick a hotel that caters to business travellers. That way, you can rest assured that they will be equipped with a good Internet connection and a workspace in your hotel room.
5. Make Use of Helpful Apps
Get a few apps on your smartphone and/or tablet to help you stay organized. An app like TripIt will keep your entire travel itinerary in one place. Several airlines have apps that allow you to get your boarding pass right from your device. And a to-do list app like Todoist or Wunderlist will remind you of the tasks that you need to complete during your trip.
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