Traveling is one of the biggest perks of running a business. It’s always fun to attend conferences or events and meet new people.
However, some entrepreneurs (aka me) find it hard to stay productive while traveling for work. The new environment, lack of routine, and stress from meeting new people can be overwhelming. Work often gets thrown on the back burner while you try to sort it out.
And yes, I’m speaking from experience here.
When I started traveling for work, I had no idea how I was supposed to stay productive while faced with the newness of it all, and my productivity suffered in those first few years. Thankfully, I eventually figured out a system that worked for me and kept me productive, and maybe it’ll help you as well.
Using Strategic Times to Work
The dead times when traveling are ideal for sneaking in a few extra minutes of work, and they can help you boost your productivity without cutting into your downtime. I’m talking about long layovers at the airport, flight delays, the hours before an event begins, etc.
You could even work during the flight- something I wish I could do, but as a motion sickness girlie its either music or napping for me. Still, if you have a couple of hours on a plane (and you don’t get queasy), you can easily get some work done before you land.
Working is better than waiting, so use these strategic times to keep on top of your tasks and boost your productivity on the go.
Make a To-Do List
One of the easiest ways to stay productive when traveling is through a to-do list. Write down everything you need to do while you’re on the go. Then, keep it close so you can look at it whenever you feel overwhelmed.
Traveling is full of new experiences, which can easily throw you off balance and make you forget what needs to be done. Therefore, writing everything down beforehand can help you stay productive. Then, you can enjoy the rest of your trip without guilt or stress.
Set Proper Expectations With Clients
Your availability changes when you travel, and your clients need to understand that before you leave. What’s more, YOU need to understand and embrace the fact that your hours will be different than usual.
When you pay to travel and attend an event, you want to be present in the moment and make the most of it. However, I still see plenty of entrepreneurs at conferences who are tied to their laptops and phones. They’re taking calls and answering questions when they should focus on what’s right in front of them.
You must set proper expectations with your clients, team, and family. Tell them when you’re leaving, when you’ll be back, and how they can reach you in an emergency. Then, stick to it.
Appoint a Team Member
Finally, you’ll want to appoint a trusted team member to manage your business while you’re gone. They can take on your daily tasks, communicate with clients, and keep everything running in your absence. They’ll also know how to contact you in an emergency, and they can send you planned updates to keep you in the loop.
When you know that your business is in good hands, you’ll spend less time worrying about it and more time soaking up the business trip.
Alternatively, if you don’t have a team yet, you can do as much work as possible before you leave. That way, you’ll have less to catch up on when you return.
Give Yourself Grace
Traveling in any capacity is stressful, and it’s ok if you’re not as productive as normal. Give yourself some grace.
Humans are biologically resistant to change, so there’s no shame in waiting to get back to work. Instead, take a day or two to get used to the newness of it all. Find your bearings and figure out a temporary routine that works.
Remember: learning new strategies, networking, and trying something new for your business also counts as being productive, so don’t feel bad about not getting a lot of work done while you travel.
It’ll be there when you get back.
