Whether travelling domestically or internationally, business travel is on the up. The latest statistics suggest this combination is seeing significant growth, but knowing how to balance work and leisure during business travel has long been considered a juggling act.
When you know how to successfully merge the two, it can be a really rewarding opportunity for all involved. It’s just some small tweaks that can make all the difference, with business travel encompassing many benefits for both employee and employer.
According to data from Booking.com, 59% of employed people agreed that travelling and exploring new places inspired them to be more productive with their work.
With our nine tips on how to balance work and leisure during business travel, the fusion will feel a whole lot smoother and more enjoyable than stressed and overworked trips from the past.
How do I plan a work trip?
Like with most aspects of work life, communication is key when planning business travel.
There are several components that need to be considered including where it’ll take place, what the purpose of the trip is, and how to go about creating a productive plan along with considering any and all emergencies and contingencies.
If this isn’t the first business travel trip within a company, there should already be a process in place to make this part as seamless as possible.
If, however, that isn’t the case and it’s starting to look overwhelming and time-consuming, consider bringing in some experts.
A corporate travel service, which is what we do here at Good Travel Management, can assist with providing fully tailored travel management packages designed around the precise needs of your business.
We make business travel management a doddle from door to door, ensuring the experience is smooth and free from any unwelcome surprises. We start from the very beginning of the process too – first looking at risk management and safety, along with finding you the best prices and creating personalised deals.
What qualifies as a business trip?
A business trip refers to travelling to a specific destination for the purpose of work. It’s unlike commuting which is simply going to and from the office.
Corporate travel could include visiting a domestic or international event or conference, travelling to meet a client or prospective signing, or simply visiting a new location for a specific work purpose.
In contrast to those travelling for leisure, the aims are to be efficient and productive. When going on holiday, the aim is primarily to relax and explore.
Business travel: 9 tips for balancing work and leisure
Whether you’re a business travel pro or a newbie, there are some small aspects to remember ahead of your trip and throughout the experience.
These tips can help save you time and money while protecting your mental health during a travel period.
1. Ascertain goals of the trip in advance
Are you visiting a conference to glean new insights or network? Or are you aiming to meet with potential new clients to help them sign on the dotted line? It’s important to understand the goals of the trip.
Being aware of this will help both you and your manager understand work expectations during this time. Otherwise, there could be mixed communication about what is to come out of the corporate travel opportunity.
2. Book accommodation in a busy area
Feeling stuck within the four walls of a hotel room, with no cafes, restaurants or social activities in sight can feel suffocating on a business trip.
Just because the trip is work-focused doesn’t mean this should take up the entirety as it’s important to continue a proper work and life balance.
If the accommodation is within a city centre, or at least has some places to visit dotted nearby, this will make it easier to separate work from play once the work day is complete.
3. Understand any work boundaries
As well as knowing what the team are expecting out of the business travel trip, in terms of KPIs or learnings, there may be company-wide information you should be aware of.
The company might have a business travel pack that contains vital information including budgets for accommodation, who should be looped into any business travel discussions, expenses, and much more.
Employers have a duty of care which extends to business travel, so they may have a process in place to help you on your trip.
4. Find a dedicated workspace
Whether you’re away for a couple of days or weeks, finding a dedicated workspace is paramount rather than being holed up in your hotel all day every day.
Due to the surge in remote working over the last few years, there are now coworking spaces available to visit on a day or weekly rate pass. Not only will this help to increase the amount of people you’re interacting with, but it can create a better atmosphere if you’re used to working in a busy office environment.
Even if a budget doesn’t allow for a coworking space day pass, head to a local cafe or pop down to the hotel’s reception. This will help create a healthy boundary too, with work and leisure separated if you’re not working in your room.
5. Stick to a routine and good habits
One of the easiest ways to balance work and leisure during business travel is to maintain the status quo. While it can feel exciting (or overwhelming) to be in a new location, sticking to some sort of routine can instil a sense of predictability even outside of your normal day-to-day life.
If you eat healthy at home, maintain this during corporate travel even if it may require some extra planning ahead of the trip.
Unfortunately, not many hotels offer kitchen facilities but many major cities offer apartment-style accommodation through different booking apps. If that would help, ask the employer for support in being flexible with these choices. Similarly, if having a gym in your accommodation is important to you ensure this is asked for too.
6. Make the most of your time off
Once the tasks are complete for the day, according to the usual or agreed work hours, get out and about to explore the area or immerse yourself in the culture.
Having some plans set aside, whether it’s a solo visit to a local attraction or an arranged meet-up, can ease the stress of the day and the travel.
According to NHS Inform, being active and partaking in activities like going for a walk, or engaging in social events or sports can help improve your general mood, self-confidence, sleep quality, energy levels and stress levels too.
7. Keep in touch with colleagues
Although you may be in a new location, stay in touch with your team to keep them informed on what you’re up to. This will help with you still feeling connected to the latest happenings which will help when you’re back in the office.
While the day-to-day work schedule might look a little different, try and maintain good levels of communication throughout like being responsive to emails and messages during work hours.
Since Covid-19, a range of remote communication tools have now become commonplace so you have plenty of resources at your fingertips like Slack, Zoom, WhatsApp Business and more.
8. Reach out to loved ones
Staying connected to your support system can have hugely positive effects when you’re away from home – even if it’s just for a short amount of time.
Schedule a phone call or video chat with family or friends once work is complete or on your breaks as this can help you to get things off your chest as they arise. This continued communication could reduce feelings of isolation too as you’ll be more aware that someone is at the other end of the phone.
9. Stay organised at all times
There’s nothing worse than embarking on a business trip and coming back with more work than ever before.
To prevent this from happening, ensure you’re maintaining the usual standard of work required while keeping a note of the learnings throughout the trip.
Writing down this information as you go along can help prepare for those post-event learnings that are usually discussed when back in the office.
Moving away from the actual work, there are some additional admin tasks that are easier to achieve when keeping on top of them like expenses.
Ensure you’re aware of the company’s expense policy and keep documentation of everything you’re spending. If receipts are required, keep these within one location and take photographs in case you lose them on your travels.