Traveling can be incredible, but it can also be incredibly frustrating if you lag behind on work that needs to get done. If you’re heading to Australia, for example, you can find the best coworking space in the Melbourne CBD once you arrive. However, it’ll take a lot of time in airports and on flights to get there, so you’ll need a set of strategies up your sleeve to ensure you’re always making the most of your time. The following ideas should help you balance the demands of work and travel.

1. Find the best task for the moment

Not all tasks are made equal. Some, such as high-level strategizing, require a significant amount of undistracted attention. A quiet room is ideal for that. Others – such as answering emails or updating social media posts – don’t require monk-like conditions. Busy cafés and crowded airport lounges are fine for that kind of task.

If you know that you need to get work done but also have a flight to catch, batch your easy-to-do tasks so you can get them done in one go. This tip is especially pertinent if your flight is long, as it allows you to put that otherwise empty time to good use.

2. Stick to a schedule

When working and traveling, a schedule is crucial. Not only does it help you batch tasks, but it can also help you plan the best time to book your flights. If you keep a Monday to Friday schedule, then that’s probably the weekends.

Although it’s unlikely that everything will always go according to plan, adhering to a strict schedule can help you pick up the slack when things go wrong while on the road. The best way to create a schedule is to write it down in a physical planner or digital calendar. Then, review it every day to see if there’s anything you need to be aware of in the days or weeks ahead.

3. Take care of your health

Although this strategy isn’t directly related to work or travel, it’s one of those keystone habits that’s essential to master. Whether it’s poor diet, bad posture, lack of exercise, or lack of sleep, it’s far too easy to get sick while traveling.

Sickness radically reduces your productivity, but healthy habits can help you avoid falling ill. That means drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of rest, and exercising as much as possible. Although it’s easier said than done (especially when early morning flights are involved), it’s important to try.

4. Bring your mobile office everywhere

One of the perks of working while traveling is that you can work from anywhere – so long as you bring everything you need. For most, a mobile office is nothing more than a laptop, a charger, some noise-canceling headphones, and a smartphone. Whatever the specifics, it helps to have them in one handy backpack or briefcase. That way, whenever you have a moment of downtime, you can get some work done.

5. Choose the right location

Work can set limits on where you can (or should) travel. For example, if the upcoming week is full of Zoom calls, setting up shop in a remote village may not be the smartest idea. If the wifi goes out, you’re out of luck. Conversely, settling into a city has plenty of added benefits. If the wifi in your AirBnB falters, you can head down to a local café or co-working space to get some work done.

Keep these strategies in mind, and you’ll be all set to improve your productivity while carving out space for travel.

Many people love working from home, but some struggle to feel productive. This could all come down to how you start your work day. You should avoid staying in bed right up to when you start work. Get out of bed as soon as possible. Once you have risen out of bed, stretching your body will be a good idea. This could come in the shape of yoga. There are yoga poses that you can do as art of your morning routine. This can help you wake your body up and help your mind focus for the day.

It doesn’t have to be yoga if that’s not your thing. As long as you are engaging with workout routines in general, you can prepare your day the right way. Continue reading this article to learn four other ways to start your work-from-home day.

Shower And Hydrate

After completing some yoga and stretching, you should ensure you are cleaning yourself to feel more ready for the day. Since you are working from home, you will be able to use your own shower. If you have a bath, you could do that, but that may be a bit too relaxing for you right before your workday.

You should also ensure you are hydrated enough to start the workday. Ensure you have started your day with some water and hydrate yourself in general. Hydration can help focus your mind and help your body feel ready for the day.

Enjoy A Coffee

So many of us will have a cup of coffee to help start our day. There are several reasons for this. For one, it tastes nice and can help you get an early treat into your day. Secondly, it can give you that kick of caffeine, which can help you wake up and feel productive. Not everyone will be able to handle caffeine or even want caffeine, which is why decaffeinated options are available.

There are plenty of different types of coffee. There are single-origin coffees, and there are house blends. Single-origin coffee is a specialty coffee that is made using beans from one specific place/region. There are relevant guides from industry experts explaining the question, what is house blend coffee? House blend coffees are usually unique to each coffee shop. They will have their own identity and could have different flavor profiles, aromas, and textures.

Since you are working from home, you can, essentially, make any sort of coffee you like. You don’t need to have a fancy coffee machine or even any type of machine, but it can enhance your experience. Consider asking those you know that have a machine if they would recommend it.

You have the choice between hot coffees and cold ones. There are plenty of different variations of either. For many, it will come down to personal preference. At home, you can prepare cold coffees straight from the fridge, or even by using ice from the freezer. You could even look to make a home-brewed frappe if you have a blender. Consider experimenting with your coffees to find something that you like.

Get The Chores Out Of The Way

Once you have had a coffee, you should still have time to kill. This could be a great way for you to get your daily chores done, saving you from worrying about them during the work-from-home day. This also means you won’t have to do them once you finish work, allowing you to relax and de-stress from the day properly.

At the very least, you could look to starting some of the chores to help save you time later in the day. For example, you could fill the washing machine and put it on before getting to hang out the clothes around the middle of the day. This saves you from having to do it all later in the day after you finish work.

Doing your daily chores is also a good way to start your day, allowing you to be productive. This can boost your brain in the morning and help you feel more awake. This could be exactly what you need to kickstart your day.

Set Goals For The Day

After the chores are done, you may feel that you are almost ready to start your day. Before you rush into the day, consider setting your daily goals. When looking to set daily goals, it may be a good idea to set a SMART goal. SMART refers to specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals. If these points can define your goals, then they will be effective.

Your goals could refer to what you want to do with your work day, but it could also refer to your personal goals. An idea of what you want from the day will give you the motivation to conquer the day. Hopefully, you have a better idea of how to start your work-from-home day now, but it’s important to try a few different things to see what helps get you in the mood.