How to Stay Productive While Traveling
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I got the travel bug several years ago, and it hasn’t left me since. I just returned from a trip to Austin, TX, and I’m a little bit depressed because I don’t have another trip planned at the moment. My love for travel meets my love for productivity when I’m taking a trip. It’s like a special blend of adventure and productivity all at once.
That being said, it’s not easy to be productive while you’re traveling. Your routine is a little off. You’re probably spending time with people. You might be in a different time zone. You might have less energy than usual, or are more easily distracted.
With some intentionality, you can enjoy your trip while also getting work done. Here are a few tips for staying productive while you are traveling. I have experience in this myself and also asked my friend and world traveler/productivity superstar, Brooke Peterson, for some tips. Here’s what we came up with.
1. Create your to-do list before you leave.
Before I leave on a trip, I always make a to-do list. People might laugh at the idea of a “vacation to do list”, but it’s key to determine what you want to accomplish before you even get on the plane. It will probably take some time to figure out just how much to add to the list. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little – it’s okay if it’s not perfect. Just make some sort of general plan for what you’d like to accomplish.
Be realistic. Don’t plan out 5 hours of work every day if you know you’re only going to be able to hop on your computer for about an hour each day. Don’t plan any Google hangout meeting if you know you won’t have great wifi.
Include some tasks you know you’ll enjoy. Even if it’s work, I like for vacation to be “fun” work. I always try to add some sort of refreshing/inspirational/personal development piece of “work” to my to-do list. Travel inspires me to be the best version of me that I can be, and it motivates me to work hard and grow. Tasks like reading, listening to podcasts, or brainstorming ideas for projects is productive and inspiring.
2. Block off time to work.
Brooke and I have both found this to be really helpful. It’s not just enough to have a plan of what you want to do when you travel. You need to have a plan for when you’ll actually do it. If you want to work for an hour a day, will you need to wake up before everyone? Visit a coffee shop in the afternoons? You need to plan your time so that you know when you’ll accomplish this, and so anyone you are traveling with knows what to expect. This is also really helpful for anyone that you work with as they’ll know when they can expect to hear from you or connect with you while you’re out of the office.
3. Batch your tasks.
This is a common approach to everyday productivity, but it’s especially helpful when you’re traveling. Rather than spending a few minutes checking email, then a few minutes writing, then a few minutes coding or whatever you’re working on, try this approach: group your tasks together and attack one group at a time. If you can’t think of good categories for your work, you can create batches like “less than five minutes” or “high focus” or “low focus”.
When you have everything on your to-do list batched into those categories, focus each work session around those tasks. Don’t try to jump around, because it will end up taking you longer and you’ll feel less accomplished. Use the Pomodoro technique to stay focused on certain tasks for a set amount of time.
4. ABC – Always Bring Chargers.
I made this one up, but chargers are essential. I usually set multiple reminders on my phone and place several sticky notes EVERYWHERE when I need to pack a charger. Make sure you have one for all of your devices, and it doesn’t even hurt to pack extra chargers. Make sure you’ve got car chargers if you’ll be traveling in the car.
If possible, try to pack extra batteries as well. Buy extra batteries or on-the-go chargers. These are great to have because if you’re anything like me, you’ll lose focus if you’re worried about your phone or computer running out of juice.
5. Stick to your morning routine, no matter what.
I have a great morning routine that I’ve come to love. But when I travel, it’s often hard to keep it going. Sometimes I’m in a different time zone, or sleeping in, or I can’t access a gym, or I just don’t want to sit in front of all my friends and meditate.
Even though I don’t keep my specific morning routine when I travel, I make time for a mini version, and you should too. By keeping this sense of routine even when you are out of your usual habitat, you’ll maintain that same momentum you have when you’re at home working. Your day will feel more on track, and you won’t have to worry about feeling behind. In fact, you might find that waking up a little earlier is the best way to get everything done while you travel. If you have a great morning routine, it will help waking up earlier much easier.
6. Make your car an office.
If you’re traveling in the car, let someone else drive and turn your car into your own personal office. Buy a power inverter so that you can keep your computer going all day. Use your phone to create an internet hotspot in your car. Some cars even have wi-fi in them these days.
If you get carsick while you travel, there are still many ways you can be productive. You can listen to podcasts or audio books. If you’re traveling with a colleague or a friend, you can talk out your thoughts about projects you are working on and turn them into action points.
7. Be productive, even in your down time.
Even if your trips are usually jam packed with adventure, you’d be surprised how many five and ten minutes gaps you have. Maybe there’s time when you’re waiting on your spouse to finish getting ready. Or maybe you arrive at dinner a few minutes early. Maybe you’re waiting in line. Make the most of those few minutes.
If you want to be productive while you’re relaxing, you can be productive without having to actually “work”. Listen to podcasts, read a book, write down some ideas you have, think about your progress toward your goals, reflect on your life, plan your next adventure… I find there are lots of “fun” productive things that I can do that are not necessarily work, but still help me grow and take my life to the next level.
How do you stay productive while you travel?
So, those are my ideas on you can keep momentum and stay productive while you’re traveling. If you have any other ideas or thoughts, share them below!
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- How to Stay Productive While Traveling - August 24, 2016
