If you’re moving from one place to another during your working day, then you needn’t write off the time you spend traveling. With the help of a laptop, phone, or even just paper and pen, you can get things done while you’re on the train. This goes for your daily commute to work, but it also goes for longer business trips.
Let’s take a look at a few tips that will help you to stay productive while you’re on the move.
Working Whilst Travelling – How to Stay Productive?
Upgrade to First Class
First-class passengers enjoy a range of privileges denied to everyone else. You might get power sockets throughout the cabin, or Wi-Fi as standard. Most importantly, however, is the comfort and space you’ll be afforded. This can make all the difference, especially if you’re working on sensitive documents. You don’t want to be handling customer profile and data when there’s a stranger sitting next to you, after all. On a related note, if you’re going to be using the Wi-Fi on a train, it’s probably a good idea to invest in a good VPN – and to run it, too.
Make a Schedule and Stick to it
If you’re travelling at the same time every day, then you can incorporate the work you do into your daily routine. For example, you might use the half an hour you spend on a train each morning answering your emails and planning the work you’re going to do in the day ahead. That way, when you reach the office, you’ll be able to devote yourself to the more intensive, creative sorts of work which demand a deeper level of focus.
Get Plenty of Sleep
If you’re tired, then you’re not going to be working at your best. This goes whether you’re working on a train, a plane, or on fixed premises. If you’re travelling at irregular hours on a business travel, then you might find it difficult to catch up on sleep – which can degrade your performance and productivity.
While you can’t set a schedule that will guarantee sleep, you can give yourself the maximum opportunity to get to sleep. This means heading to bed at the same time every day, avoiding screen time, and avoiding caffeine after lunch.
Listen to Music and Podcasts
For a certain kind of work, and a certain kind of worker, the right playlist can help to bolster productivity. You might even find that there are playlists curated to cater to certain activities, like researching or coding. Another idea might be to listen to podcasts while you work. While this can be distracting, it’s perfectly appropriate for those tasks that don’t require your full attention.
Your preferences will vary, so make sure that you find some auditory stimulation that matches the kind of work you do.