Traveling for work can be fun, but it can also be a little stressful. Not only do you have to cope with delayed flights, uncomfortable seats, and possible jet lag, but by the time you finally have that big meeting at your destination, you’re often tired and cranky. How can you possibly feel like your best, most professional self to conduct business?
It's all about balance. If you offset work responsibilities with a little time to enjoy your surroundings, business travel affords many an opportunity for adventure. At the end of the day, you get to travel to a new place and experience routines and cultures different from your own — and expense the entire thing. What's more exciting than that?
The right outlook and a little planning can help reduce the stress of a business trip and greatly increase your down time. That's right: You can have your business lunch and eat it, too. We've teamed up with Hilton Hotels & Resorts — the ultimate resource for making business travel hospitable — for a few simple ways to maintain balance on your business trip. That way, your work trip might just feel like a vacation.
1. Use Your Travel Time To The Fullest
Busy schedules can make time spent in the air or on a long train ride feel extra frustrating. Drafting preliminary e-mails, prepping for meetings, or getting ahead of next week’s work during travel time can alleviate stress and help you feel totally productive. Another way to save time is to check into your room ahead by using the Hilton Honors App. It allows you to select the room that you want, bypass physical check-in to go straight to your room and use as a digital key to unlock for room. That way, you can maximize your post-work leisure and minimize your time ironing out logistics.
2. Practice Healthy Habits
It's entirely possible to maintain your health, hygiene, and mental wellbeing while traveling, all of which are essential to keeping you calm and cool while conducting business. If your routine involves waking up early to read the day’s headlines over coffee, try to maintain that on your business trip. You always brush your teeth at night normally, so don't skip it just because you're exhausted from jet lag. Keeping up with your daily habits will help you feel comfortable, even when you're far from home.
3. Take Charge When It Comes To Scheduling
You might not have a ton of time to explore on a business trip, but you can also see the sights while you work if you plan accordingly. If you have to schedule meetings, find the best restaurants, coffee shops, and bars in the city as creative venues for those meetings. You can depend on Hilton Hotels & Resorts by using the Hilton Explore tool through your Honors App to research some fun stuff to do in your city. Or if you're old school, just use the concierge!
Suggest meeting for lunch at a rooftop terrace so you can enjoy the cityscape while you dine. You'll achieve the perfect balance of “bleisure” (business and leisure) by closing deals in Chicago over deep dish pizza, or discussing new opportunities in Boston over clam chowder.
4. Clear Your Head With A Workout
A big part of maintaining your healthy routine on the road means getting some exercise. With Hilton’s Five Feet To Fitness™ offerings, you can squeeze in a workout from the comfort of your own room. At select Hilton Hotels & Resorts around the world, you can book a Five Feet to Fitness™️ room, complete with 11 different fitness equipment and accessory options including an indoor cycling bike, suspension straps, and even a meditation chair. Sticking to your daily workout could not be any easier.
Plus, included in every Five Feet to Fitness™️ room is a kiosk with over 200 guided exercise tutorials and 25+ classes to start your morning. Nothing invigorates you like a good workout, and now it's easier than ever to maintain your routine while traveling.
5. Schedule Down Time
There’s no denying that traveling for business can be exhausting. Between the constant meetings and lunches, you have to be “on” all the time. Then by the time you get back to the hotel, you're ready to fall asleep in the big comfy bed. But it doesn't have to feel that way. Instead, plan out your itinerary to include some dedicated downtime. You can use it to call home, hit a local spa, or relax in your hotel room with a book. When you're done, you can head to your next meeting with a clear and refreshed mind.
6. Add A Few Days To Explore
If your trip takes you to a new city, consider using a few of your vacation days to extend your stay. Trying to fit in sightseeing between work obligations might feel like a lot, after all. If you have the time available, taking a few extra days for yourself can completely transform a “boring business trip” to an “amazing vacation with just a few meetings.” Talk about a glow up.
For more content on making the most out of your business trip, visit our "Doing The Most" hub.
This article is sponsored by Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
