How to Make Traveling For Business Go Smoother

Traveling for business is, unfortunately, no vacation, but if you follow this simple advice, you may find yourself appreciating the time away from the office anyway.

Conference Calling to Stay in Touch on the Go

Whether you are the boss or an employee, the office does not shut down while you are traveling for work. There may be a big question, an emergency situation, or just an important meeting you may otherwise miss if you do not have the right tools to handle it.

With a good conference calling app, instantly start a video meeting to get everyone on the same page quickly and easily. That way you can get back to the job of making it through airport security or indulging in that one sightseeing spot you’ve been looking forward to.

Take Advantage of Programs For Faster Airport Security Checks

We’ve all been there: Standing in a line with your carry-on and your laptop case on your shoulder, shoes off, back aching, wishing you could just skip this mess. You’re no threat to anyone.

The worst thing you can do is leak your pen all over another passenger. Clear, Pre-Check, and Global Entry, all get you through the gate faster, helping you skip the misery of watching that toddler scream because they are terrified of the wand TSA is waving over them. Just keep your fingers crossed they aren’t in front of you on your flight.

Use Apps to Organize All Your Travel Details

The right combination of travel apps can make it feel like you have a personal assistant with you while you’re away. You can use them to scan for best flight and hotel prices, book your choices, organize your itinerary, keep everyone in your group up-to-date, track your expenses, and store pictures of receipts.

Some of the apps integrate with your calendar to help you stay on top of your plans. Do some research to figure out which apps work best for your needs, but make sure everyone in your group uses the same technology.

Hope For the Best, Prepare For the Worst

We all love it when our direct flights are on time, there is no line at hotel check-in, and traffic is light and easy. This is a dream scenario, and sometimes the travel spirits smile upon us with such a blessing.

When they don’t, it can be a nightmare if you are not prepared. If at all possible, fly earlier than you need to and allow plenty of driving time once you are at your destination. If you have a morning meeting, book a flight for the night before so you can arrive fresh and ready to go instead of travel-worn and bedraggled.

Pack Light

If you can avoid checking a bag, do. Checked luggage can tack on at least another 15 to 45 minutes to your time at the airport. Complications like lightning can make things take longer, as most airlines would prefer crew members not become toast on the runway.

Most flights will allow a decently-sized carry on in addition to a purse, small briefcase, or laptop bag. If you are traveling for a shorter time, this may suffice. Wear any blazer or jacket you intend to take on the plane to keep it from getting wrinkled, and wear the bulkiest shoes you are taking so they don’t consume your packing space.

Eat Healthily

While it may be incredibly tempting to take advantage of your travel time trying all the most decadent restaurants in a new town, the overload of sodium, sugar, and fat, will eventually weigh you down. Feel free to dig into those KC ribs or that NY cheesecake once or twice depending on the length of your stay, but do your best to stick to a diet closer to how you eat at home.

Your body will thank you, and you will have the energy you need to power through a grueling schedule. Pack healthy snacks like nuts, granola bars, or fruit; try to find a nearby market; if you have an extended stay, book a room with a kitchenette so you can cook healthy meals for yourself as much as possible.

Get Sleep

Take care of yourself as you would at home or better. Getting enough sleep at night while you travel can be a challenge, especially when you are hopping time-zones. There are apps on the market that can help you combat jet-lag and other sleep-related problems while you’re away, and you. Sticking to a strict sleep schedule will help you stay fresh while you’re away, and prevent homecoming exhaustion.

Final Thoughts

Travel for business can be both exciting and daunting. Remember to take excellent care of yourself so you can efficiently and effectively do the job you were sent to do. Stay in touch with your office with video conferencing tools, take proactive steps to make sure your travel goes smoothly, stick to your regular routine as much as possible, and don’t forget to squeeze in a little fun while you’re out.