Some business travelers have the unique ability of blocking out the world and powering through work, even if they happen to be at 40,000 feet. You want to know how they can do it?

Here are a number of ways that can help you maximize in-flight time and encourage higher work output while travelling on a plane:

1- Plan realistically and Set Goals

Just like planning out a regular day in the office, gauge how much you can achieve in the projected flight time and set goals. Be realistic and be precise - allow for take-off, landing and meal times, and account for sleep on long haul flights.

2- Download Reference Materials Beforehand

Even a reliable plane WiFi could still hit and miss sometimes. This depends on the carrier and your destination. To avoid this altogether, plan ahead; download all relevant materials from the web or shared drives so you don’t have to depend on spotty plane or airport WiFi.

3- Charge your laptop and bring a universal adapter

A power point is available on most plane seats. However, they are often slow to charge and may require a different plug. Juice up before boarding, and bring a universal adapter in case you’re faced with a foreign outlet.

4- Start Working As Soon As Possible

Whip out your laptop and get started as soon as the seatbelt sign blinks off. The sooner you get yourself into work mode, the higher the chance of reaching your goals of getting your work done perfectly well. Even though meals are served soon after take-off, you don’t have to wait until after eating to get started.

Domestic flights offer the perfect pocket of time to get a solid amount of work done. There’s no must-see in-flight entertainment and rarely a full meal service, so if you commence work as soon as possible you will be completely uninterrupted for a quantifiable period.

5- Give yourself time to wind down

If you are on a long haul flight and have allocated time for sleep, then give yourself time to wind down. Install a blue light filter on your laptop and prepare a book or TV show episode to help you relax, just as you would after a day in the office. 

6- Don’t Get changed into your comfy clothes

If you want to be productive rather than dozy, don’t change into your comfy clothes until you are ready to wind down. It’s hard to take work seriously when you’re wearing fluffy socks, so save the PJs for sleep time.

7- Don’t Linger over your meal

Meal times can provide a welcome break - after all, you can’t comfortably fit both food and your laptop on the tray. When choosing your dining entertainment, opt for a TV show rather than a movie, and say no to a second beer after dinner. Once the tray has been cleared, you want to be ready to jump back into it.

Again, when traveling while working and working while traveling is inevitable, it doesn’t have to be counterproductive. You just do your best to make the most of your journey – as well –  by following the tips above.

Aviation Horizons