It’s no secret that the main order of business in business trips are, well, business. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a sizable amount of downtime outside of conferences and meetings that you can’t fill up productively. Take a look at some of these suggestions on how to spend your downtime productively that doesn’t involve a wink of work.
Catch up on Rest
Maybe you’ve had a busy week and this trip is your only chance to catch up on some z’s. Take full advantage! The hotel bed has your name on it, and for good reason. Use your room as an oasis to recharge and reset in between a busy work itinerary. Whether that involves actual sleep or relaxation in other forms, like a lux bubble bath.
Read the Local News
Glancing through the local paper can help you feel more present in the place you’ve traveled to for work. While it might not feel like you’ve traveled elsewhere because you’ve taken your work with you, the local paper can help you reframe the environment. You might even come across some cool events that are happening while you’re in town.
Invite Family to Tag Along
It might not always be possible to travel with family, but business trips present a unique opportunity to work it in. While you’re working, your family can explore. You can catch up with them afterward to do something fun, like trying local cuisine or doing a night tour. Or, you can either arrive early or stay later to make time to do more group activities with the family.
See the Sights
Work can sometimes take the wind out of us, and for some of us, we’d rather relax for the rest of the evening and turn on the TV when we get home. Business trips are sometimes treated in the same fashion. It goes something like this: Meeting. Eating. Resting. Repeat. But why miss out on an opportunity to explore a new place, or discover more about a place you’ve already been? Life is all about balance. And checking out the sights in a different city and what it has to offer is a sure way to invigorate your senses and shake things up.
Play Some Brain Games
While this might not sound immediately productive, keeping your brain sharp by playing some fun and challenging games is always an enjoyable distraction. Especially when they’re catchy! These brainteasers will keep you entertained and instantly shift the focus away from work. Heck, you might even impress your colleagues by figuring some of them out.
If you’re feeling lucky, check out these online gambling apps. It’s a great way to have some good, honest fun without ever leaving the hotel room. You might not even need to do a close watch on your business expenses if you start winning big.
Exercise
For some, exercise isn’t even a thing to them until they’re out on business and their hotel offers a nice gym. Exercising is a quick and surefire way to get you reenergized and feeling good. What better way to melt off the stress of a work trip than with cardio? It’ll make you feel less guilty about indulging in the catered lunches.
Journal Your Thoughts
Life moves fast in the corporate world, there’s no doubt about it. Sometimes we spend our days drowning in technology that we forget about the old-fashioned pen and paper. Journaling is an effective way of boosting our mental health and a reminder to slow down and be in the moment. So, open up your notebook (yes, the pretty blank one that never gets used) and take the time to reflect on the past year. List achievements. Create new goals. Write a letter. Jot down the things you’re grateful for. Doodle. Make a poem. The paper is your canvas.
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