How to Work While Traveling: 5 Ways to Cut Stress

Work on the Go: How to Work While Traveling

Yesterday’s travel agent learned how to work from home. Today’s travel agent must learn to work while traveling. Why is this? The number one thing travelers demand from their travel consultant is details. What’s the view like from that hotel room? Does this restaurant offer a good gluten-free menu?

It’s no longer enough to read about your destinations. You have to go. Today’s travel advisor must learn how to work while traveling. It’s an amazing and rewarding lifestyle, but one that can quickly lead to burnout if you don’t take steps to protect yourself. You cannot travel like someone who travels “once or twice a year.” Instead, you must learn to integrate the routines and healthy habits you follow at home into your nomadic lifestyle.

Here are a few tips!

1. Have a morning and evening routine
2. Create a work schedule
3. Have a backup plan in place
4. Take notes
5. Stick with your healthy habits

1. Have a morning and evening routine

Don’t think of a routine as something that restricts your sense of adventure. Rather, a routine allows you much-needed mental rest as you start and end your day so you can conserve your energy for the part of the day you are out exploring. Some awesome, restorative habits to include in your morning or evening times might include reading, prayer, journaling, a bath or skincare regimen, or simply reflecting on your day over a cup of tea.

Related: Top 8 Things Successful People Do Each Morning

2. Create a work schedule

If you work from home, you might already know how to prevent common work distractions. A set schedule is key! This is harder to do while traveling, but even a little can help.  It’s good to carve out specific, focused time to answer emails, work new quotes, or write for your blog. Figure out the wifi situation in advance and determine the best time and place for you to have focused work.

3. Have a backup plan in place

“Will my travel agent be available if I have an emergency?” This is one of the top concerns our clients have when they are traveling. If you are traveling at the same time, it may be difficult to respond to their emergencies. You must have a trusted co-worker available who can access your clients’ travel information if the need arises. Let your travelers know who to contact by creating away responses for your email and voicemail.

4. Take notes

We forget about 90% of the new information we absorb within one week. Don’t risk forgetting important details about your travel experience that may be valuable to your clients. Take notes everywhere you go. You can bring a small notepad, take notes on your phone, or even use photos and/or videos to jog your memory.

5. Stick with your healthy habits

Travel is physically taxing. You spend long hours seated on the plane, sleeping in awkward positions. It’s easy to eat poorly (and too much!) and sleep too little. If you travel several times a year, you must make health a priority even on the road. Yes, indulge in some fried street food. Have a croissant for breakfast now and then! But pack some healthy snacks and try to make sure you are making good, nourishing choices as much as possible. Fit a light workout into your daily schedule. Even if you plan on seeing the city by plane or bike, these things don’t take the place of strength-training, stretching, or whatever other fitness routines you need to feel good.