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Creating the ultimate workspace setup is an important factor that can make or break your productivity. But when you’re on the road, how can you find a space where you can lay out all your essentials and get the job done?
As a business traveller, you know that the amount of work you can get done each day is directly proportional to the amount of comfort your space offers. You may not have a permanent desk space on the road, but you can still make your hotel room work-friendly.
In this chapter, we’ll be sharing the best tips from corporate travel management experts that will help you create the ultimate workspace to boost your productivity and efficiency on-the-go.
Find the Right Hotel Room
There’s no doubt that when someone’s driving you, the road isn’t a great place to read and write. You may get headaches or develop motion sickness. Or if not that, the noisiness of traffic or the cramped environment might be a distraction.
If you want to create the ultimate workspace, the first thing you need to do is find a place to stop and work. And what better place to stay at than a hotel? A good hotel will have all the amenities you need for a productive time.
At a minimum, the hotel room that you book should have a wide enough desk, good lighting, writing essentials like pens and notepads (if needed), and a comfortable, quiet atmosphere.
Besides the room that you choose, you should also be particular about the facilities the hotel offers. For example, if you have any last minute requirements, the hotel should have a dedicated work area where you can gain access to a fax machine, printer, and phone as needed.
During your free time, the hotel should also have amenities that can help you relax and reboot. A gym, spa, and restaurant should be enough for you to destress and unwind.
Make Sure the Hotel Room Has Good Wi-Fi
Besides the aesthetic of the hotel and the amenities they offer, one of the most crucial factors you need to consider is their Wi-Fi connection. Considering that most projects and collaborations are online, you need to make sure that you can connect to the hotel's fast internet easily. Otherwise, you’ll just feel stressed about the slow loading, downloading, and response times.
To know whether your potential accommodation has good internet connection, you need to do prior research. Before booking your hotel, be sure to look for reviews online to see what previous guests have to say about their Wi-Fi. You can also cross-check the hotel using different booking platforms like Booking.com to see how previous guests rate the internet.
While these are effective methods, you can also contact the hotel concierge directly to ask about their Wi-Fi speed. Generally, hotels offer an internet connection averaging 30 Mbps.
At this rate, you can stream videos on HD and participate in conference calls. Some hotels like the premium Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Ritz-Carlton even offer internet speeds much higher than that!
Bring a Power Strip and Extension Cord
The best way to have your devices ready to go on your business travels is to bring your chargers, but the problem is that there’s not always an outlet available. If you’re in a public place, there might not be enough outlet space for you to charge your devices.
Even if you’re in a private hotel room, the outlets might not be conveniently located. That’s where a power strip and extension cord come in. The power strip will allow you to charge all your devices at once, and the extension cord will make it more convenient to charge them wherever you’re sitting.
Bring Your Tech Travel Gadgets
Your workspace will not be complete without some of the best business travel gadgets. These include anything that will make working easier and more convenient. Although this will depend on your personal preferences, we’re sharing some of our top travel gadget picks below.
Laptop Stands
Ergonomics plays an important role in your productivity. From your posture to your viewing experience, everything needs to be optimised to make work comfortable for you anywhere, anytime.
A laptop stand can prevent neck and back strain because it will raise your laptop screen to your eye level. Especially if the desk that you have in your hotel is too low for your height, this tool can help you keep your spine straight and your neck in a comfortable position.
Wireless Mouse
We can all agree that every built-in mouse pad offers very limited movement. By bringing a wireless mouse, you can gain more flexibility and control over your actions. And the best part is, it doesn’t strain your fingers, so you can work for long hours easily and comfortably.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
If you’re on a plane, in a car, hotel room, or a cafe, noise can be a major hindrance to your productivity. So, we recommend that you invest in high quality noise-cancelling headphones. Notable models include the Voyager 8200 UC, the Voyager 5200 UC, and Calisto 5300, though it is good to do research before your trip to see which ones might be best for you.
No matter which model you get, these headphones basically block out noise so you can enhance your focus and concentration. If it helps, you can also put on some music or white noise to help you focus even more.
Keep Yourself Organised with a Charging Station
If you have too many devices on your desk, it can get cluttered pretty quickly. One solution is to bring a charging station with built-in compartments. This will allow you to place your gadgets in an organised manner, saving valuable workspace for more important files.
Takeaway
There’s no getting around it. If you work while travelling, you’re going to have to work in hotels and even coffee shops. Now that we’ve broken down every element you need to know about creating a work-friendly environment, it’s time to put these ideas into practice.
Plan ahead with these tips so that you can create a workspace that will enhance your productivity.
