Traveling for vacations may be fun. You know when you get to your destination you can relax and enjoy some time off. Traveling for work isn’t quite the same. At the end of your journey might be a big meeting, a crucial presentation, or an angry client. So what do you do with those few hours between leaving your office and arriving for your appointment?

It’s really important that you’re comfortable when you’re traveling. Many companies have to keep their travel budget down to a minimum, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take some of your own creature comforts with you. Something as simple as a neck pillow can make an enormous difference to those aches and pains we all receive on long-haul flights.

Start the journey as you mean to go on. Reduce the pressure and the stress by leaving the travel arrangements up to someone else. When you book using corporate travel services, all of the itinerary can be managed on your behalf, so you don’t need to worry about the little details. Just turn up and let your tickets do the rest. It might save your company a lot of money by booking this way, and you’ll be feeling more relaxed when you arrive for that big meeting.

In-flight entertainment isn’t always as entertaining as it should be. Pack your tablet and make sure you’ve got plenty of eBooks and movies all ready to go. If you’re currently studying, why not plan for a couple of hours of research or revision? It’s easy to be bored on a flight or long train journey if you’ve got nothing better to do than staring out of a window. List all the things you could achieve in those few hours. Make the most of it!

Your body isn’t designed for sitting down for long periods. It’s important you get up and stand as much as you can while traveling. In the very least, you should be stretching (as much as you can in a cramped seat.) Getting the circulation going is good for your mind as well as your body. You’ll be able to relax and focus more. Best of all, you’ll be able to figure out the best way to enjoy your downtime while you’re away!

Having fun while away from home is important. It can’t be all about work, work, work. Besides, you want to see something more of the city you visit aside from a company conference room. Do a little research into the city you’re staying in. What are the tourist highlights? And what are the best kept secrets for good dining and evening entertainment? Make it a memorable visit, and you’ll find all that business traveling will be a little less tedious.

People who don’t have to travel regularly for their job are probably envious of you. They don’t realize how tiring and uncomfortable it can be. So make them envious for a reason and make the most of your time away. Put the fun back into your work.