In response to my earlier post on Business, Travel & ADD, tac anderson commented:
My biggest problem is actually getting any work done. I always plan to
make the most of my down time or get some work done in the evenings
(you'd think it would be easier w/ my wife and kids around) but it
never works out that way.
It's a great point...and a trap that many of us fall into. We think, I'll be away from the office and all the distractions for a few days so I'll really be able to get some work done!
Of course, it's always a big plus if we can find some "extra time" to get more work done. But business trips can be so stressful and overwhelming to begin with that it doesn't always work in our favor to try to accomplish a lot while we're away. So when my clients ask me to help them prepare for a business trip, I always encourage them to stay focused on the reason for travel.
For example, when attending a conference, determine your primary objective. Is it to present to an audience, sell your products and services, learn new things, or network and forge relationships? The vast majority of your focus and energy need to be directed towards your primary objective.
If you have the energy and brain power to accomplish more, then that's a happy bonus...and I stress the word bonus. When you have adult ADD, sometimes that "free time" during travel is best spent recharging.
When you have a tendency to become easily stressed, distracted, overwhelmed, and burnt out, it's best to set realistic expectations of what you can accomplish when you travel for business, and then plan accordingly.
More business travel tips are on the way, stay tuned! If you'd like to tell us about your biggest challenge when traveling for business, then I might just craft an ADD-friendly business travel tip with you in mind!
And in the meantime, jump over to my main blog, Experiencing ADDvantages, for some March mADDness giveaways!