Wondering how to be more productive from airport lounge to remote meeting? Check out our handy roundup of software for productivity for tips
In today’s world, there’s a wide range of tools that can take away some of the inconveniences associated with business travel. While Zoom and Teams are great ways to connect with colleagues far away, software for productivity is a potential game changer when it comes to ensuring there’s no decline in your output while you’re on the road. After all, there’s nothing like face-to-face time to grow relationships and keep employees engaged, which is why business travel is so valuable. However, along with all that potential come productivity-sapping side effects like jet lag, not to mention the time spent in transit.
Wondering how to be more productive at work – even when you’re on the road? There’s a wide range of apps for that very purpose. From time tracking to to-do lists, today’s work productivity tools keep you focused no matter the location. Plus, they benefit your health and well-being, helping you avoid the stress of work-related inconveniences while working away from home.
According to NexTravel polling reported in Forbes, nearly a third (31.9%) of business travelers stated they found it difficult to stay on top of their workload when traveling. This led to 23.8% feeling the need to work overtime to make up for lost productivity upon their return – a sure recipe for burnout.
Research conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel found that travelers experienced stress and lost productivity for up to 6.9 hours on an average business trip – nearly a full workday.
So, what causes this stress? The main issues reported by travelers in this survey included:
The good news is that with productivity planning, businesses can reduce these travel-related issues that can lead to stress, burnout, and lost time.
A productive day starts with a plan. Here are a few productivity tips for work and travel:
Before traveling, organize your itinerary including all flight, train, car, and accommodation bookings. With travel software for productivity like Booking.com for Business, you’ll be able to store this info in the cloud for easy reference from any location.
Flight delays are one of the major causes of stress, but you can minimize it by keeping all essentials in your carry-on. Travel with any vital work files and equipment as well to stay connected during delays.
If available in your country, sign up for programs like Global Entry that let you skip airport security lines.
Online calendars, notepads, and to-do lists keep you organized outside your primary office space. If you’re planning a trip for the whole team, make sure everyone downloads the latest updates from your company’s preferred cloud-based work productivity software ahead of time.
There’s a wealth of tools out there to help you be more productive. Typical features include time tracking along with the ability to create and share graphs, databases, documents, and itineraries.
Work productivity software is a broad category that includes:
While there are traditional desktop software suites, many of the best tools for productivity tracking are available as smartphone apps.
Having a productive day while traveling is a tall order – these popular work productivity tools make short work of it.
Widely regarded as one of the best productivity tracking and planning apps, Todoist is practical for travelers. Think of it as your daily to-do list, powered with the latest technology. You’ll be able to list your daily tasks, prioritize them, and track progress. A key feature for business travelers is the ability to collaborate with other team members in real time, from anywhere.
Compatible with most devices and platforms, Todoist lets you break your day down into manageable chunks while you’re on the move. The most basic version is free, so you can try it out without committing to a paid plan.
Reliable Internet access is a must for a productive day, but networks can unfortunately be hit-or-miss in different countries and regions. Wi-Fi Map is a crowdsourced productivity tool, meaning users share hotspots and other details. This makes it easier to find the closest Wifi network in your area and stay connected, even when you’re traveling to distant locations. Finding a hotspot also saves your phone data while keeping roaming charges low.
You might already use Trello in the office as a project management app. However, its simplicity means it functions equally well as a productivity tracking tool. Trello uses a kanban concept with a user-friendly, minimalist board broken up into three columns. The first is a to-do list for tasks in the pipeline, while the second is for work in progress. The third is where you can list tasks that have been completed. Each task goes on a virtual sticky note for easy movement from one column to another, so you have a good overview of what needs to be completed.
Wondering how to have a productive day when you’re stuck in an airport? Make the most of that time with Flio. This tool lets you track your flights, giving a heads-up on any potential delays, and it also includes comprehensive airport guides. It shows you how to get to the airport most efficiently, as well as airline gates and security checkpoints.
It also lists productivity resources available at the airport, like meeting rooms, along with showers, lounge access, and restaurants. The aim is to hit the ground running once you arrive at your destination, rested and ready to work.
Organization, communication, and connection – while you don’t need productivity apps, they certainly make balancing work and travel easier. Some, like expense tracking apps, automate manual processes while others store important details like itineraries and calendar dates in the cloud so you don’t lose them. When you want to have a productive day, all these little things add up.
Choosing the right work productivity software depends on your industry, travel requirements, and workflow. No matter your needs, there’s likely a tool out there for you. Consider the following as you decide how to be more productive at work:
Options like Google Workspace keep you connected with colleagues, while Trello and Todoist keep you on top of your daily to-do lists. Ultimately, there’s no work productivity software that beats all others. In fact, many of these apps work together with flexible integrations.
To stay in control of travel management, including making travel payments within budget, you might want to consider Booking.com for Business. With Booking.com for Business, you’ll be able to cut down on travel admin and focus on work-specific tasks. By booking flights, accommodations, and car rental from a single platform, you won’t have to juggle multiple itineraries. Plus, this free corporate travel platform comes with an integrated traveler safety map, so your team will have immediate assistance if and when they need it, cutting down on stress and costs.
When it comes to learning how to become more productive at work, metrics vary. Your productive day while traveling might not look like your office-based colleague’s. Productivity means making the most of the time you have, whether that’s using your downtime for self-improvement podcasts or fitting in a quick gym session at the airport to stay focused.
Here are a couple final tips to help your productivity planning:
And our number one productivity tip for work? Take a break. It’s easy to forget this when you’re worried about keeping up with colleagues back home during a trip, but you’ll operate at peak productivity when you’ve had time to rest. Schedule it into your calendar or add a little self-care to your to-do list.
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