For many of us, traveling out of the city or country for work is a regular phenomenon that has become a part of our routine. While traveling is fun – something we all look forward to – short business trips can tend to get strenuous and trying, if not planned well. Flights at odd times, spending long, grueling hours at airports, on flights and while traveling from one meeting to another can all lead to exhaustion.
Certainly there are ways that can help you avoid all the unwanted stress and use your travel time to your advantage, making your trip not only fruitful, but also memorable.
Organize your travel
Having a self checklist is very essential, even if you are a regular business traveler. As we all know ‘to err is human’, so it’s always good to plan in advance to avoid mishaps. Your checklist can include everything from what you need to take along on your trip, to your meeting schedules, official tasks that need to be completed, shopping lists etc.
Use your travel time effectively
Long-haul flights have their pros too. The time can be used to complete your pending official tasks at hand or to give that final finishing touch to your presentation. You could also use this time to relax and get good a rest before you get into the business trip grind.
Take your favorite author along
A good book can sometimes be your best travel companion. You can read to just relax and unwind or to relieve your stress after a long day at work. While enriching your knowledge, reading also soothes your mind.
Take time out for yourself
Even with your busy itinerary, make it a point to set aside 15 minutes for yourself, before you begin your day. Pray, meditate, listen to soothing music or do anything that relaxes your mind; keeping your mind free of thoughts for a few minutes a day increases levels of productivity.
Be a tourist
It can get difficult to explore the city or country you are visiting, but try to set aside some time to look around, even if it’s just an hour to visit the local marketplace or neighbourhood . It is important to get a feel of the varied lifestyles people lead in different parts of the world. Talk to the local people, visit the tourist attractions, try new cuisines or just learn a few words of the local language – in short, create a new experience for yourself that you can take back with you.
Lastly, go back to your checklist and see how many tasks you have managed to strike out. In addition to that business deal that you have just cracked, if you had a new experience, learnt something new, read some more, watched a movie or just relaxed your mind – you have had a worthwhile trip.
