When embarking on a journey, whether it’s your daily commute or a longer professional trip, preparing ahead can significantly boost your cognitive performance and overall productivity.
- Gather Essential Documents: Before you leave, ensure you have all documents necessary for the work in transit. This might include reports, briefs, or research papers relevant to your work. Having these at hand means you can use travel time effectively, turning it into an opportunity for progress.
- Plan for Offline Work: While we often hope for seamless internet connectivity, it’s wise not to rely on it entirely, especially during travel. Prepare work materials that can be accessed offline. This could involve downloading important files, pre-loading web pages for reading, or bringing physical documents. You can prepare to work on Google documents offline in the browser by clicking ‘make available offline’ before your trip. Other applications like OneDrive will allow you to work offline and sync once you are connected again.
- Reduce Travel-Related Stress: Travel can be unpredictable. Delays, crowded spaces, and noise can increase stress, which in turn affects cognitive function. Mitigate these factors by carrying noise-canceling headphones, ensuring you have a comfortable travel pillow, and perhaps a book or music for relaxation.
- Create a Work Travel Kit: Consider assembling a dedicated ‘travel work kit’. This might include a portable charger, a lightweight laptop or tablet, a travel-friendly mouse, and any other tools that enhance your mobile work experience.
By incorporating these strategies, you can transform your travel time into a productive, stress-free, and engaging experience even when on the move.
