One
One
of the main joys of being self-employed is that - provided I
have my laptop, a strong cup of coffee and a speedy wi-fi
connection to hand - I can get my work done from wherever I choose.
Case in point: when I was working on Women Who (the
platform for creative working women I set up in 2016) I impulsively
took a trip to Provence a few days before its launch, safe in the
knowledge that I could get most of what I needed done without
actually needing to be in London, where I'm based. It's a similar
story with the modern career guide I've recently written, Little Black Book: A Toolkit For Working Women, which
I eked out in coffee shops and libraries around the world. And as I
was writing it, I had in mind the many ambitious and
entrepreneurial women I know who - like me - are increasingly drawn
to careers they can make work from (pretty much) any corner of the
globe.
So far so good - but it's important to remember that combining
work and travel does come with its fair share of challenges -
making it work requires a bit of upfront planning if you want to
stay organised (and sane). With that in mind, here are some
practical tips on how to stay productive when you're on the go.
Get organised
- First things first - make sure you've got a decent data roaming
plan in place. Without one, you'll be at the mercy of unreliable
wi-fi hotspots - or worse, end up being stung with an eye-watering
bill for the sake of a few emails and tweets. Three's Feel at Home
tariff is great for UK-dwellers, whilst T-Mobile provides a
similarly affordable data plan for US-based frequent flyers.
- Consider investing in an iPad and keyboard combo instead of
lugging a heavy laptop around with you for the duration of your
trip. Downsizing to a tablet can take a little getting used to at
first, but you'll quickly realise you can get just as much done as
you would on a laptop, and lighten your load in the process.
- Check the small print on your travel insurance to make sure it
covers any expensive equipment you'll be taking with you, and that
the excess on them isn't ridiculously high. If you're travelling on
the company dime you're (probably) covered anyway, but otherwise
make sure that loss, theft or accidental damage - all of which are
far more likely to happen when you're in transit - don't end up
spoiling your trip.
Pack right, pack light
- Clothing wise, stick to clothes made from fabrics that won't
wrinkle easily - so cashmere and wool during the winter, and jersey
and polyester-blend cottons when the weather warms up. One-pieces
in particular are your friend when travelling as they mean less
time spent planning outfits or trying to co-ordinate separates, so
opt for jumpsuits and dresses if you can.
- Being smart about your luggage situation can make all the
difference, so keep things straightforward and stick to the
following three items: - A suitcase (duh). Opt for a 4-wheeled
model for maximum ease, ideally in a carry-on size. - A work bag
for day-to-day use. This should be large enough to carry your
laptop and notebooks around town, and sturdy enough not to fall
apart on you mid-trip. - A small pouch (or two) for storing the
important stuff: passports, travel documents, ear plugs, phone
chargers - basically anything you'll repeatedly be reaching for
whilst en route, and don't want hidden in the depths of your
luggage.
- If you can bear to travel with carry-on luggage only, do so -
you'll be glad of it when you've just landed and get to skip
baggage reclaim purgatory, especially if you're heading straight to
a meeting. Turning up sweaty and dishevelled because you've been
wrestling a 30kg suitcase from airport to Uber is not a good
look.
- On that note - if you are getting off a long flight and heading
straight to work, make sure you pack a toothbrush, mini toothpaste
and spare top near the top of your hand luggage, so you can freshen
up quickly before landing.
On location
- As much as possible, try to maintain some semblance of the
routine you usually adhere to at home. If (for example) Wednesdays
are usually your designated day for sorting out your finances, make
that a priority when you're away for work too. Sticking to your
regular routine will make trips away feel much less disruptive, and
you'll spend less time scrambling to catch up once you're back in
the office.
- Make use of any communal lobby areas in your hotel to work from
(or if you're AirBnb-ing it, find a local coffee spot you can
decamp to for a few hours). Staying cooped up in your room your
entire trip can make for a fairly claustrophobic experience, which
isn't exactly conducive to productivity - plus, the chance to
absorb the local atmosphere is one of the perks of getting to
travel for work, so get outside and soak it up!
What to pack
- No need to sacrifice form for function, with this sleek but
sturdy Issey Miyake Bao Bao shoulder
bag.
- You'll need some reading material to kill time whilst waiting
around in airports, so use that time effectively with Little Black
Book: A Toolkit For Working Women, a travel-size career guide.
- I usually stock up on Glossier's signature pink pouches
whenever I'm in the US, but this brightly coloured pouch from
& Other Stories is also
great for staying organised while on the go.
- If you're going somewhere warm, this navy Mango jumpsuit is smart
enough to wear to meetings, while its lack of sleeves will stop you
from overheating.
