Following her recent visit to Atlanta, associate Jenna Gauld reflects on how you can make the most of your time when out of the office.

 

In theory, when you travel with work, you should have time to focus on getting a few things done. In reality, it can be almost impossible to work in a busy airport or on a busy flight. Here are a few tips to help you to be more productive when you are on the road.

 

Plan ahead

There is nothing worse than starting a piece of work and realising that you need Wi-Fi because the document you need is in the cloud, or that your battery on your laptop is low. Staying productive while you are on the road is all about planning ahead. Download the files you need, take a power pack with you for your devices and hit send/receive in your inbox, when you are on Wi-Fi. Try to avoid relying on in-flight Wi-Fi – it is generally slow and frustrating.

 

Make the most of being away from the office

If you are in an airport lounge or on a busy flight, put on headphones. Listening to music can help to drown out distractions and allow you to focus. If you need to write a business plan, sometimes it can be good to do so while sitting on a plane, away from interruptions, phone calls or emails. If you are driving rather than flying, maybe you can do a few calls (hands-free of course).

 

Exercise

If you are jet-lagged or tired following time spent traveling, some gentle exercise will help to re-energise you and get you ready for the day ahead. Many hotels have a gym or pool. If not, a morning jog is a good way to start your day.

 

Don’t forget to rest

Travel can be exhausting. Make the most of being away and get some sleep in a hotel room. If you are traveling through the night, try to get at least a nap. If you need to work, maybe focus on simple tasks like clearing email, when you are too tired to focus on anything complex.