7 Ways to Make the Most of Your Downtime During Travel for Work

By Kristi Hines

You’re stuck in your hotel room during your business trip, twiddling your thumbs, wondering what to do for the next few hours or even few days. If you travel for work often, this is probably a familiar scene. Fortunately, taking advantage of that downtime can be really productive, both professionally and personally. Here are seven ways to make the most of downtime when you’re traveling for work.

1. Recharge

Business trips are can be stressful for a variety of reasons, as noted by Entrepreneur. You’re trying to acclimate to new place and maybe even a new time zone. And you’re probably also engaging with new people. Even if you’re the most extroverted salesperson, you still need time each day to recharge your batteries. It might be an hour break at your hotel, sitting at a park, or having a lunch or dinner to yourself. Whatever it is, make sure you carve out a little you time that is people- and stress-free.

2. Respond to Voicemails

When you’re traveling for work, you might be getting sales calls that are filling up your voicemail box. When you have a few moments, be sure to check your phone and office voicemail to flag the critical messages from your colleagues and customers. Even if you don’t have time to return calls, you can prioritize who gets your attention when you do have time. Or if a problem has come up, you may be able to shoot a quick message to another colleague who can tackle it while you’re on the road.

Read the rest of our tips for using your travel downtime here.