Your next work assignment requires you to head out of town for a few days. Whether it's via plane, train, or automobile, the end result is usually the same: you're going to have a few days of business meetings mixed with quiet evenings in your hotel room.
But don't let the downtime on your business trip be a waste. You can use it productively to forward your personal and/or work goals. Even if you only have a few minutes of quiet time, try these tips to keep laser-focused on your targets while you're traveling.
1. Use Your Devices Productively
We have so many digital devices, it's hard to narrow down what to pack in our luggage and what to keep handy while we're traveling. How you're traveling plays a big role in this, though.
Got Windshield Time?
If you're driving, you can stay productive with an audiobook. Use this "windshield time" to learn a new language, embrace your intellectual side, or simply enjoy a fluff piece by your favorite fiction writer. It's still productive because you're refreshing your brain, so you'll be ready to work when you get to your destination.
Make the Most of Your Passenger Experience
If you're flying or taking a train or bus, you have a lot more options. Since you're stuck being a passenger and letting someone else control the direction, use your travel time to your advantage. Check your emails, respond to old messages, research the itinerary, guest speakers, or other relevant info. Or, you could start an online course on a subject you've been dying to explore. Try a new skill that will boost your chances of furthering your career path, or indulge in something you're interested in that has nothing to do with your job. Knowledge is always a good thing!
2. Passively Invest in Your Future
Sometimes, you can be productive without doing anything more than what has to be done anyway. Use your downtime to research how you can use your current business trip to start preparing for a fun personal getaway. The more you plan and take business trips, the more you'll learn about how to take advantage of the benefits. Did you get to use a business credit card to book your trip? Do you have travel perks you're not aware of? Upgrade your room or get discounts on your next trip by using your current booking info. Alternatively, let corporate travel services do the work for you. Planning your trip through a travel management company gives you benefits like a seamless check-in experience, business-class prices, knowledge of updated pandemic policies, and easier local and international planning. These companies can simplify your entire travel experience, freeing you up to have more time to invest in your future instead of dealing with travel details.
3. Expand Your Professional Network
You're here to meet with other people face-to-face. What better way to expand your network? Networking is the key to a successful career. Building professional relationships could also help you in your personal life. Check out the LinkedIn profiles of scheduled attendees before your meetings. Highlight those who interest you and make it a point to introduce yourself in person. Invite them to dinner or to explore the local sights with you. As you get to know everyone, think about who would be a great addition to your web of connections. You never know who will impact your life or whose life you'll make a difference in.
4. Plan Your Goals
In the hectic pace of our day-to-day routine, it's hard to set aside time to plan for the future. But the time outside of your business meetings is yours. Why not use this time to plan, reassess, or begin working toward your goals? Before you jump into a list of things you want to do, try to pinpoint an area that will increase your productivity. Set goals that can make your life better when you get back to reality. Set deadlines so you can hold yourself accountable.
5. Get Organized
Just as we lack the time to set goals, we don't have a lot of time to get ourselves organized on a daily basis, either. Take advantage of your free time while you're on a business trip to get organized. Start with your planner, either physical or digital. Color-code your tasks, read the instructions of your digital app, and declutter your inbox. These are strategic steps to declutter your schedule and add more time to your day.
6. Turn Your Trip Into a Learning Experience
Anytime you have the chance to see a new place and learn something new, take it! Check out the local sights, including family-owned restaurants and shops. Learning more about the culture and environment of the area can also give you connection points with customers and suppliers from that location. Take a stroll around the neighborhood, visit parks and beaches, and grab a brochure off the rack in your hotel to get ideas of popular entertainment in the area. Use your travel benefits to come back again if you can't squeeze it all into this short trip.
7. Improve Your Health
This trip is an opportunity to take steps toward better physical and mental wellness. Instead of indulging in unhealthy eating and sleeping patterns, try establishing habits like walking to any destination within a mile or two, eating a healthy breakfast, setting a sleep schedule, drinking more water, and making healthier food choices. Choose what you want most over what you want right now. Establish these habits now, while you have the time, so you can continue them when you're back at home.
In conclusion, business trips are an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, see new places, and get things done. With the right mindset and a little bit of preparation, you can use your next business trip to further your career and improve your life!
