It is a fact that business trips will always be a part of professional life. Whether you are a marketing expert or a new entrepreneur looking to grow your startup company, you will need to travel from place to place to meet new people and try to sell your great products. However, constant business travel can be grating and hard on your mental health, so you need to find a balance.
If you have no choice but to travel, then consider turning your business trip into a pleasure trip, where you get your work done, but also spend some time enjoying life. If you are interested in this concept, then heed these tips.
The Benefits of Turning Business Into Pleasure
As we mentioned, if you are constantly on the road talking business, then it will start to wear on you. If you are always in work mode and don’t enjoy your life and your family, you could start to experience burnout and depression. By mixing business and pleasure, you can get the best of both worlds and live a balanced life.
If you do it right, smart travel can be incredibly beneficial to your well-being. This is especially the case for those who work from home, where employees often feel isolated and lonely due to being separated from the outside world. By getting out of the house, you will feel better. Plus, travel is fundamental for everyone because it allows us to see the world and meet people from diverse backgrounds.
Business professionals who are very busy might not have the time or the money to stop their work and enjoy a vacation, so taking advantage of your business trip may be the solution. If you are on a tight budget, you can save a lot of money on travel and lodging by taking time for yourself during your work trip. This is especially helpful if your company is footing the bill for the plane and lodging. If you find out that there is a business trip coming up, and it is to a place that you have always wanted to go, then consider volunteering.
Scope Out the Hot Spots
If you have a choice, take some time before your trip to research hotels in the area and find a few that strike your fancy. This is a chance to splurge a little, so look for a hotel that has a pool, shuffleboard court, hot tub, spa, or any other amenities that you enjoy or will put you at ease. Of course, you should make sure it is in close proximity to all of your business meetings, so you aren’t stressed trying to get where you need to go on time.
Next, research the area and look up some of the highly rated restaurants and consider making a reservation. Better yet, convince your partners to have lunch there, and it may be considered a business expense that you can write off on your taxes. If you like a particular type of food, like Mexican or Italian, then look for restaurants of that flavor.
Finally, look for some fun activities you can enjoy during your downtime. Maybe there is a famous museum in town or a beach that everyone says you must see. Check out the prices and the proximity to your hotel and see if visiting these sites is possible.
It is important that you look up all of this information before your trip so you can make reservations and you don’t lose your chance. This is also an opportunity to pack your bags accordingly. Remember to bring your swimsuit, comfortable shoes, plenty of wardrobe options, contact lenses, and any paperwork or documentation that you may need to bring for any particular activities.
Schedule Leisure Time Into Your Trip
Now that you know there is fun to be had during your trip, you need to think about how you can schedule your time accordingly so you can enjoy those activities. For instance, you could try to schedule all of your meetings for the morning, so you can get them done and enjoy the rest of the day on your terms. If you typically have a lot of emails to catch up on every day, then make it a point to wake up earlier in the morning and designate the time for getting work done.
You can also try to use current technologies to your advantage. Use a calendar app to block out your leisure time so you know it won’t be interrupted. Also, if you don’t need to meet a client face to face, you could use a video app to discuss business from the comfort of your hotel. That way, when the meeting is done, you don’t have to travel as far to do the things you enjoy.
Just remember that not everything needs to be on the schedule. If you ever find that you have some free time, take a walk around town and see what you discover. You never know when you will turn a corner and find a great restaurant or a tourist attraction that was not on the itinerary.
As you can see, it is possible to turn your business trip into a pleasure trip. You just need to make an effort. Consider these tips, and you can mix the best of both worlds and have a great time.
