(content by Prince)
Between catching flights at the proper time, to hailing taxis, to making sure that you book hotels with built in office spaces so that you’ve got sufficient prep-time for those meetings—you live on the edge of striving to get everything done in a reasonable amount of time, while also finding some semblance of order along the way.
Heck—even figuring out tax paperwork can be difficult for corporate travelers.
Hotel Engine may have said it best in their blog post: Per Diem and Taxes: Top 7 Frequently Asked Questions (With Answers).
“For all its advantages, having employees that travel can be a logistical nightmare. The paperwork involved for travel managers and accounting teams is extensive, especially when it comes to taxes.”
So here’s the real question:
Is there a way to simplify this process, to help you have a simpler life as a traveling professional?
Well, the answer is yes.
And in this post, you’re going to learn five different ways to make that happen.
Believe it or not, running around like a chicken with your head cut off doesn’t have to be part of the job requirements!
Let’s dive in and discover how to make your traveling life a simpler life.
1. Stick To Company Processes
The travel manager in charge has likely created processes and procedures for traveling to help make your end of that endeavor as simple as possible.
Hey, not all companies manage to do things in the most streamlined manner.
But if you can streamline your own efforts and sync them up with those of your travel manager, to keep from working against each other—that’ll save you a bunch of time, effort, and energy.
And it just may inspire them (the higher-ups) to try to makeyour life a bit easier as well.
2. Pack Like A Minimalist
Whenever you’re traveling for business, you may be tempted to pack as much stuff as possible, so that you always have what you need.
Well, this is understandable to a point.
But it’s also important to understand that the smaller your bags are, and the fewer of them you have, the easier it’s going to be to get from place to place with less stress (and less potential for inconvenience).
So pack light, and pack simple.
It’ll make your life a lot easier.
3. Use A Packing/Travel Checklist
If you’re not sure exactly what to pack, you may want to make use of a checklist just to make sure you don’t forget anything.
You can find a great travel checklist here.
But even if you’re a seasoned traveler, making sure to run over your checklist before you leave is always critical.
Even the most seasoned professionals can sometimes forget necessities that they’ve taken with them 100 times!
We’re all human—right?
4. Pack Travel-Friendly Electronic Gear
As a traveling pro, you’re going to need some gear to help facilitate a better work environment while you’re on the go.
From sound isolating bluetooth headphones, to tablets in portable cases that’ll protect them while you’re going through customs at the airport—making sure that your gear is travel ready will make your life both more convenient and a lot more efficient.
Plus, you never want to be caught without the crucial gear needed for the job!
5. Utilize Mobile Travel Apps For Maximum Efficiency
One of the most powerful pieces of travel equipment that you possess is your phone.
And guess what?
There are countless apps that can make your life as a corporate traveler easier and more streamlined.
To discover some great apps that may just help you to make your own life easier while traveling, check out this list.
You may just find a few gems that’ll help to ease some of the burden on you, thus empowering you to create more time for things that really need to get done.
Conclusion
Traveling as a corporate pro will always present its own fair share of challenges.
But armed with these five tips, you can at least simplify the process and help yourself to make it as easy as possible.
Now, equipped with this knowledge, it’s time to get out there and get your business done.
Good luck.
We’ll see you around!
