How do you really get any work done on the road? For me, it's tough. I have some general guidelines, though. On this particular four-day trip up and down the West Coast, I've broken every rule. It's one reason I'm pretty sleepy as I slouch into my airplane seat for the ride back to Anchorage.
A. Get a good night's sleep. This is easier said than done, particularly if you're on a red-eye flight or if you're crossing many time zones. Sometimes, if I can arrange to fly in the evening before any meetings, I can get a jump on the next day.
B. Buy yourself some space. Sometimes this means springing for a hotel instead of staying with friends or relatives. Sometimes it means renting a car instead of taking public transit. In a noisy, crowded world, you may have to pay extra to get a little breathing room.
C. Buy yourself some time. Business trips are often measured in minutes instead of hours or days. It's the reason frequent travelers enjoy a shorter line at security, instant check-in at the hotel, or the express car rental. Consider a nonstop flight, even if it's a few bucks more. Or, consider flying in or out of a suburban airport instead of the big-city mega-port. Use a travel agent instead of struggling with your own arrangements. Add up all these saved minutes and you can have an extra hour (or two) to sleep in.
D. Cut back on coffee. Everyone I know who flies back and forth across time zones says caffeine impedes your ability to adjust to your new schedule. But I subscribe to Heritage Coffee's slogan: "Life's short. Stay awake." And I'm paying for it this afternoon!
E. Don't over-schedule yourself. Whether I'm on a business trip or on vacation, I have a tendency to overbook. Then, about halfway through the day, I end of having to decide what's not going to get done. If there is travel involved on the ground, it's crucial to take local traffic into account. Earlier today, we sat in traffic for 45 minutes because I didn't listen when my host told me about the local rush hour.
F. Arrive early. This does not apply just for the flight, although I'm a chronic "early arriver." Whether it's a meeting, a luncheon or a presentation, you'll be more relaxed if you have a few extra minutes to find a parking place or gather your thoughts. Again, this is easier said than done, especially if it cuts into your sleep time.
G. Find a quiet place. This is so important. Traveling is a noisy business. Airports are noisy. So are the planes themselves. I'm a big fan of the noise-canceling headphones that block some of the noise. It really makes a difference.
H. Drink lots of water. This is good advice whether you're traveling or not. But if you're flying quite a bit, you're going to dry out. So push fluids. If you're fueled by caffeine or plan to enjoy wine with dinner, you have to work hard to hydrate.
I. Exercise. My friend Trini Amador travels the world on business. He makes a habit of going for a run or a brisk walk on arrival. He claims that helps him to acclimate to the new time zone, get a feel for the new destination and get the blood running all at once. So even if you cannot get to a local club or a workout room at the hotel, you can go for a stroll around the neighborhood.
If you follow just a few of these tips, you'll have more fun and be more productive. Me? I'm ready for a nap!
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant. E-mail him at zoom@toursaver.com.
SCOTT MCMURREN
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