No matter how much of a professional you might be, it’s safe to say that business travel can get old really fast. From jammed seats and crowded planes, to weather delays, constant rushing, and traffic jams, most professionals find themselves stressed, and exhausted by the time they get back to the regular 9-5 grind.
Fortunately, there are some ways you can have more fun on your next business trip without sacrificing that all-important professionalism. Just so long as you have a few necessary accessories with you, such as a money security belt and a worldwide travel plug, and you’re happy to explore your sense of adventure, you can get more out of your next business flight.
Step 1: Avoid the Annoyances
A lot of the problems that make business travel so draining can be solved quite easily. For example, if you want to have more fun on your next business trip, your first step should be to make the process as straightforward as possible. Use your money security belt to keep your valuables safe, a TSA-approved padlock to breeze through baggage checks, and bring a set of earplugs or good headphones to help yourself ignore even the loudest of screaming babies.
Keep in mind that building up your travel perks through frequent flier miles could also give you a better chance of making it into the next class up on your flight too – so you can enjoy more leg room, and additional benefits.
Step 2: Prep for a Day of Vacation
If you have a meeting first thing on Monday morning, try setting out a little earlier on Saturday or Sunday so you can have a day to recuperate following your flight, or even spend some time exploring the city around you. Most of the time you’ll find that you can get better flights if you go early anyway, so make the most of the expenses you’ll save and remember that you don’t have to stay at the fanciest hotel around to have a good time.
Step 3: Make a Playlist
It may sound corny, but the truth is that good music can make just about any situation more manageable. If you’re looking for simpler ways to have more fun on your next business trip, simply loading up a specialized playlist of some of your favorite songs onto your smartphone or iPod could be enough to keep your mood elevated. Just remember to bring your universal charger with you so you can maintain as much power as possible.
Step 4: Make Space for “Me Time”
Finally, just because you’re travelling for business doesn’t mean that you can’t insert some rest and relaxation into the mix too. Even if it’s just a couple of hours spent relaxing in your hotel room after a long meeting, remember to make time for yourself. Run a bath and turn up the music, or grab a good book and allow yourself to wind down for a while. Every moment you’re away from home doesn’t have to be completely devoted to your career.
