Take Off: 4 Airport Productivity Habits
December 10, 2007 by David Zinger
Filed under Business
Does your work cause you to travel? How do you use your time in airports before take off?
I would appreciate tips that Slacker Managers use to make something out of their waiting.
Here are my 4 airport productivity habits.
I like to get to the airport early. After checking in I always go to the bookstore and look at the new business books. I write down any titles I find intriguing and usually check them out of my local library when I return. The last time at the airport I found the following titles:
- Calming Your Anxious Mind
- It is all in Your Head.
- Stumbling on Happiness
- Business and the Buddha
- You have no time to lose
In 10 minutes of browsing I had 5 great sources of books. To me, there is something about looking at the cover, holding the book, and flipping through the pages that I just don’t get with on-line book browsing.
I love to work while waiting for the plane to take off. This is some of my most productive planning and idea times. I know many people hate waiting but I enjoy getting to the airport early, navigating through security, grabbing a big cup of coffee and settling in to generate ideas, draft new articles for Slacker Manager (watch for the 12 Days of Management hatched in Halifax airport), and write short articles. I save my reading for the plane.
I will often wear headphones and listen to music while doing this to block out all the other external distractions and help me focus on the rhythm of the music and the ideas I am generating.
I always carry a number of pens and will often jot down quick ideas and action steps. I generally prefer to work with a clipboard and blank white paper. I also will sometimes use the napkins from Starbucks. I have used my computer notebook but overall I work better while waiting with pen and paper.
Many people seem irritated or impatient before their flight. They can’t seem to wait to get on the plane and they can’t seem to wait to get off of the plane when it lands.
What are you waiting for? How do you use the time before take off?
Photo credit: love is in the air by http://flickr.com/photos/linnybinnypix/444194790/
David Zinger just flew in from the Halifax airport.
I don’t care for waiting much in airports but my idea of productive time in them is very different.
I sleep incredibly easy in planes and I’ve conditioned myself to this so well I now get into a very sleepy drowsy state anytime I get into an airport. So, I sleep when in the airport, I sleep on the plane and I generally sleep through takeoff and landing with a flight attendant waking me only to leave the plane after the flight.
I do this over and over and since its so easy for me now, I generally use my time to be productive the night before flying. I stay up and use those hours productively and then I make up my sleep at the airport and on the plane.
Mike
Sounds like snoring…I mean good recovery time.
Happy sleeping and flying. I hope you are not the pilot.
David
For me, there’s a certain Zen to the Admiral’s Club (yes, I fly a lot and I fly American). I leave early, usually arriving at least 2 hours before my flight.
Traveling four days a week, but working from a home office, I’m often alone in my home office. Thus, the buzz of commerce, people, and energy around me has motivated me to close some of the best business deals of my life.
I can say surely that I rarely spend more than ten minutes at the gate before boarding, but the time I spend in my little oasis is often the most valuable time of my week.
(Note: to those out there who will turn up their noses at the mention of a “club”, note that Admiral’s Club membership is only $350 for non-elite flyers. For me, flying 52 weeks a year, I pay $250/year or, $4 a week!!!!!)
You have Zen, Admiral, and Flying all together and you close the deal. Looks like you’ve got it all for $4.00 a week. Full steam ahead as you take off!
Great debating article.
I do the same as you – go straight to the business section in the bookstore. Unfortunately, I don’t’ have the discipline to write down the book names and go to the library. When I see a book I want, I buy it there and then!
I also have my laptop with me and write blogs, update my e-books, any products and just ideas.
I also like to get at the airport early to have a quick look round the shops. I often buy by Christmas presents at the airport (even if I am travelling in May).
After doing all of that, if I am feeling tired or just want to relax, I people watch and wonder what they are thinking or where they are going.
Andrew