Question: What is one strategy for making the most of your travel time during the holiday season?
Plug In, Then Shut Down
"Utilize some of the down time (especially during flights) to work on items that take some contemplative thought, like annual planning for next year or writing personalized notes to your team members, key vendors or customers. Then shut down, turn off the computer and focus on something else. It's often when we have distance from work that strokes of brilliance occur."
@DarrahB
Use the Mornings to Work
"First, don't let the family know that you cannot stop working. Rest when you need to, don't drink too much, and don't eat too much. This way, you can get up at 5:00 a.m. and work for several hours. You may need a nap in the afternoon, but the rest of the time, enjoy the holiday and recharge."
@peterdaisyme
Make Calls
"People tend to be in a more relaxed, chattier mood around the holidays. So while you're traveling, make calls. This could be calling clients to thank them for their business, reaching out to potential new clients, or touching base with people in your network. Develop the relationships during the holidays so that when everyone's back in the office in January, they're ready to take action."
@RealLifeE
Don’t Take a Partial Vacation
"Either go offline or be online. If you’re going offline, don’t respond to emails; it will confuse your team."
@phildumontet
Live in the Moment
"As an entrepreneur, it’s very hard to disconnect from the business and all the aspects that need to be resolved to keep it running smoothly. If you’re very passionate about your company like most entrepreneurs, your brain is always working with ideas to make it grow. No matter how hard it seems at first, try to stop, breathe, rest and enjoy today."
@aatanacio
Ditch Your Phone
"I’ve found that ditching my phone and putting work aside really works best for me. The holiday season is about enjoying time with family and friends, and it’s nearly impossible to do that while checking your email every other minute. I like to enjoy my days, and in the late afternoon I’ll commit a couple hours to making sure everything is running smoothly."
@alexruckusny
Assign a Leader While You're Away
"Assign an ad hoc leader for your company and filter all communications through him or her. The only items that should reach your smartphone or PC are ones of utmost importance that can't wait until you return. Everything else should be handled by your appointee."
@moneycrashers
Clear Your Head
"In the book 'Getting Things Done,' there’s a recommended process where you get out a piece of paper and write down a list of everything you would possibly need to do. It’s a good technique because it can help you build a solid to-do list. It’ll also help you de-stress as you arrive at your holiday dinner or destination. It’s all written down, so you don’t have to sweat keeping a mental list."
@jesselipson
