Before I took off for a recent business trip, I wrote a bit about preparing for business trips and the things that I do in order to not only get ready, but to also keep things under control while I am gone. There is a third part to managing business travel in a home business and that is re-entering and getting back to things when one comes back…
For me, no matter how dedicated and careful I am with preparation, there is always a certain amount of “putting things back together” and putting out fires when I come home. There are e-mails to be attended to, accounts to check on, and the biggest challenge may just be getting my head back into the game, so to speak. Even if I have been working all the while I am away, it is a different sort of work and re-entering the every day aspects of my business requires some focus.
I start by taking a scan of how things stand an prioritizing. Often, I try to respond to any e-mails or messages first and spend the first day I get back sorting through my e-mail inbox and trying to answer and write everyone. I take a good look at any “to do” lists and calendars I left for myself prior to heading out (I generally make myself a “to do” list BEFORE I leave of what I know I will need to attend to when I get back) and start working through those tasks.
Finally, I have learned to give myself a little room and not expect that I will be ready and able to jump right back in full force the minute I get back. It generally takes me a couple days before I am back in the swing of my business and work tasks full force.
Also: Holding Down the Fort When You’re Not There
Gearing Up for a Business Trip