We have to face it, in today’s economy the reality of a true vacation may not exist. Staying connected is vital to returning calls or emails that you may have been waiting for the past couple of weeks. You won’t have to take much time from your vacation or trip. Business trips are becoming the norm for many young professionals.
Be Productive During the Downtimes
No trip is usually going to be filled with countless hours of activities. There will always be a couple of hours at an airport or on a flight that instead of being spent sleeping can be used to send emails or write a new proposal. If on the way to a meeting or important function, prepare yourself for this by practicing over your presentation or pitch.
Have Easily Portable Technology
You don’t want to show up to a meeting covered in sweat because you had to lug a heavy laptop across town. Ultrabooks are much thinner and lightweight than regular laptops. That makes them perfect for when you need to get to a meeting quickly without looking (and smelling) like you just ran a marathon. An ultrabook doesn’t use as much power as a typical laptop. They’re designed for maximum performance without sucking the life out of your battery. It’s not uncommon to find an IBM Lenovo ultrabook with a battery life over 7 or 8 hours. While other people get their knees dirty looking for a free outlet in the coffee shop, you can concentrate on work. Make sure your phone has international coverage if you are frequenting Europe or Asia. Communication with the office is vital especially in the competitive world of business.
Budget Your Time
There always seems to be an excuse while away from the office or home not to get work done. Make sure to write out a schedule allotting time to get the things done that are important. If you are on vacation, make sure to budget time to your most important projects. At the same time, there will be things that you can let wait till you return and you should leave these things be. Vacation is a time to enjoy yourself so don’t forget to budget out some time for whatever interests you in the city or country you are in.
Have an “Office”
Designate a specific area for yourself to do work that will allow you to put the care and attention needed into your work. If with children or a significant other, make sure that they know that when you are in that place that those around you know that work is being done. In my personal traveling experience, my favorite place to go would be the golf course of whatever city I was in. It was quiet, outside, and gave me a sense of calm that only a golf course can give.
Reward Yourself
If recently just completing an assignment that was rather grueling, you should reward yourself. Go out to a nice dinner or go to a movie. Have a rewards system set up that will keep you motivated to keep your head down and work. Rewards are quite easy to find when on vacation which is another added bonus. This could be going to the pool when on a cruise or exploring part of a city that you have always wanted to.
Although focusing on your work may seem counterintuitive while on a vacation, this is the way things are evolving in the business world. If you are a traveling businessman, these four steps can keep you on the fast track to the top of the corporate ladder.
I do a lot of online work and I like to keep up on it even when traveling. Those are some good ideas as to budgeting time and rewarding yourself for getting something done.
I am a firm believer in the reward system especially out on a trip.