No one really wants to work while they are on the road, but sometimes we have to, and that’s just a fact of life. It is important to make the process as painless as possible to work more efficiently. Here’s how you need to plan out working during vacation.
1. Plan Ahead
The first step to any good plan is to, well, plan. How well you can work while on the road will depend on how you are travelling and why you are travelling. Where you are travelling doesn’t really matter. For example, if you take a road trip in an RV, your plan will be much different than if you are vacationing on some cruise ships.
Try to figure out how much time you will be able to dedicate to work. Knowing where you will be working from and how much physical space you will have (compared to how much space you need) is also helpful. For example, will you be working in the backseat of a car or from the comfort of a hotel room? You would need to make a different plan for each situation to be as productive as possible.
2. Always Bring a Laptop
If you are working away from the office, the odds are that you will be working online. For this reason, it is key to always bring a laptop with you if you are planning to work on the road. While tablets may work well for some professions, laptops are a safer bet, as they can usually handle more work-related tasks than your average tablet.
Whenever possible, download whatever software or files you need to complete your work before you leave for your trip. This way, if you find yourself in a place that doesn’t have wi-fi, you can still get some work done, rather than sitting there, doing nothing. If you have data on your smartphone, you can also make a wi-fi hotspot, which you can connect your laptop to.
3. Wear Noise Cancelling Headphones
Any kind of road trip or vacation is bound to get noisy at times. This can lead to major distractions and even frustrations. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem: noise-cancelling headphones. These headphones are worn like normal headphones. However, instead of putting music or a podcast into your ears, it makes it, so other noises are less likely to get in your ears. This is the perfect solution for people who work best in quiet spaces.
If you do not need quiet to work but still get distracted by others easily, then listening to your own music can help. Try listening to classical music or binaural beats if you have trouble focusing. This way, you cannot get caught up in singing along to lyrics.
4. Set a Specific Time to Work
When you are at work, there is usually a specific time that you need to clock in and out. When you are on the road, you need to make those times for yourself. Pick out whatever time works best for you and make sure to stick to it. Setting an alarm may be able to help. During this work time, devote yourself to your job. Once the alarm rings and your shift is over, get back to enjoying your trip.
5. Make A Priority List
Sometimes, you may have so much work to do that it becomes overwhelming. Making a list as to what is most important to finish first can help. There are a few steps you can take to make the best priorities list that works for you.
- Make a list of all of the tasks you need to accomplish.
- Lump together items that are a part of the same project.
- Highlight what is most important to do.
- Rank the tasks in how much effort/time they will take to complete.
- Rewrite your list with the tasks in order from most to least important, taking into account which you can realistically finish.
Working while on the road can be tough. Hopefully, by following these tips, the task can be made a little easier.