It can be difficult to stay focused and productive with your goals while traveling, especially with less sleep than usual, always being on the move, and adjusting to new environments. In this article, I’ll go over my best tips to stay productive while still taking well-deserved breaks. Getting into the right mindset is the hardest part of it all, with children running around screaming, loud conversations, and airport announcements sometimes coffee and headphones are not enough.
Prepare Ahead Of Time
To be prepared for anything traveling can throw your way anticipate for things to go wrong. One of the most common issues with traveling is delayed or lost luggage. A life-saver is to keep an airtag inside of every suitcase or backpack to locate it anywhere in the world. This hack saved me when my bag was delayed during a layover in Amsterdam and the airport staff couldn’t help me locate it.
Download an offline map of the destination you will be in and save any potential quiet workspaces in different areas of the city. So now you will never have to worry about an internet connection when trying to get back to your hotel or when you need to get some work done while out and about. Saving the address of your accommodation, nearby restaurants, and attractions all can help you be proactive and productive while traveling.
Once you have your rough draft of activities and restaurants for your destination it will be easier to create a temporary routine. Make sure to schedule breaks and downtime to maintain a balance of work and rest. Find the best time of day for you to get a couple hours of work done and schedule activities around that time frame. Personally, 10 AM to 2 PM is the time of day where I’m most productive, so I schedule my activities around that time frame. Another option is to do time blocks, for example between 9 AM to 12 PM get some work done before doing activities for the rest of the day and vice versa. It takes trial and error to find what works best for you!
Getting In The Zone
Setting a timer for yourself to get work done can help motivate you to get into the groove. The task will feel easier to approach when it’s only for 15 minutes, and this tip can help throw excuses out of the window. Before anything else, I find it best to make a list of anything you would like to achieve while traveling. Whether it’s less electronic time, getting a sale, more exercise, finishing a project, or quality time with loved ones. Once you have your to do list, it’s time for the hard part, sticking to it. I found doing the smaller tasks first can get me in a focused mood to help me do the larger tasks and stay productive while traveling.
Use apps to stay organized while traveling
There is nothing more irritating and stressful than to have spotty Wi-Fi and not be able to get work done before deadlines. The following websites and apps help me stay organized and productive while traveling:
- Google Drive is perfect for small businesses or personal use.
- Google Suites is better fit for larger businesses with teams to share work with others, and work on the go.
- Dropbox is another great option for small to large businesses to maintain access to documents, images, and videos while offline.
- Google Meet is an easy way to set up video meetings & calls no matter where you are in the world.
- Meeting Planner is a great website to help you schedule meetings and send invites across different time zones.
- Lastpass is a website to help you save and protect all of your passwords in one place for free.
Use a VPN and portable internet device for security
A VPN protects you and all of the information on your devices from being hacked into. This also comes in handy for changing your location back to your home country to use streaming services without any issues. During my recent trip to Valencia, Spain my VPN allowed me to continue watching Netflix as long as my location was in the United States.
A portable internet device allows travelers to have internet while out and about. This has saved me in more ways than one. This hack is perfect for shy travelers who don’t want to ask every business they enter for the Wi-Fi password. For outdoor adventures or simply walking around the city, this device ensures you always have a connection since it works like a hotspot. On average, it weighs 5 ounces, costs $100 to $300, and is the size of a portable charger or phone.
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Power banks
Power banks or portable chargers, allow you to charge multiple devices simultaneously. For outdoor adventures, invest in a solar-powered portable charger for any emergencies. This product can also charge any necessities such as portable stoves, lights, air mattresses, and more. When finding the right one for you it’s important to consider how much battery you tend to use for your devices. For travelers who need to use electronic devices more frequently during the day, I recommend 20000mAh which can charge your device four to six times.
Download a translation app for foreign countries
If you don’t already, using an app such as Google translate can help during conversations by using your microphone to translate what is being spoken during real time. You can download the language spoken in the destination to have it available offline. This can be a life-saver when you have a long layover and want to explore the city or simply need assistance to get by during your travels.
Make time for self care
Make time to rest and relax and choose meal options wisely throughout the day. Eating spicy food before bed, for example, can cause discomfort, heartburn, and lower quality sleep. Also, make sure to pack small snacks and water bottles to enjoy while exploring the city. So you dont get hangry or spend a ridiculous amount of money just to stay hydrated and fed.
Is your goal to stay active while traveling? Then schedule workouts into your day like an appointment you can’t miss, and don’t forget to give yourself enough time to stretch and shower after the workout. I found workout classes are a great way to make new friends in different cities as well as staying productive while traveling.