Expert tips for getting into the inflight work zone

There are two kinds of travellers in the world – those capable of focusing on work above the clouds, and everyone else. For some, it’s even more productive than being on the ground, because you can focus for hours without interruptions.

However, it is possible to switch camps and boost your productivity in the air, and it’s a lot simpler than you may think. 

The key is to not overthink it. Putting pressure on yourself to get a project done, in the set time from wheels up to wheels down, can throw you off your game. You’ll focus more on watching the minutes tick by than actually completing your task. 

Instead, it helps to approach it with a calm mind – and have a realistic idea of how long you’ll remain productive. Based on experience, you may be better off working for a couple of hours, having a break, then returning to business.

If there’s work to be done during your next flight, here are other strategies to stay on track.

Charge your devices in the lounge

While the very latest laptops make claims of ‘all day’ battery life, we know those lofty promises rarely hold true in the real world.

Instead, get into the habit of plugging the laptop in at the airport, even if there’s plenty of juice still left in the battery, as you can’t always rely on an inflight recharge.

Sometimes the power socket in your seat won’t work, and if it’s a full flight you simply move to a seat where there’s power on tap. Some older aircraft and seats have a restricted AC power flow that's insufficient to charge a larger-screen laptop. 

Part of this is to also add a multi-plug AC adaptor to your carry-on kit. This isn't just for use in airport lounges which have only a local outlet, such as you may encounter during a transit stopover.

Open essential documents before takeoff

Inflight WiFi is a brilliant thing, with most of the major airlines offering fast and often free Internet access for the duration of the flight. But you can’t always guarantee this will work.

As a back-up, it’s always a good idea to download essential documents and open any websites you may need before climbing aboard. That way you can at least switch between tabs, if needed. And it’s better to have the option, than find yourself short.

If you’re a user of Google Docs – a common tool in the connected business world – there’s a handy option to access and edit documents offline; all you need to do is download a Chrome extension and select ‘Make Available Offline’ until ‘File’ in Google Docs.

Consider prepping your in-flight work before you actually take off...

Drown out the noise

Noise-cancelling headphones are a must-have for your travel kit. Even if you’re not listening to music, slip these on and flick the switch to push down chatter in the cabin plus that constant mind-numbing drone of aircraft engines. 

Given many wireless noise-cancelling models now last upwards of 30 hours on a single charge, you can enjoy undisturbed listening for the duration of the flight – and then some.

Earbuds are a great option too, with the charging cases extending your listening time. 

Be realistic

Set realistic expectations of how much work you’ll do on the flight. Rarely will a ten hour trip mean ten solid hours of work. It might not even mean five hours of work.

It’s all too easy on that rushed day before you travel to tell yourself that you’ll catch up during the flight, you’ll bash out that report or presentation uninterrupted.

But you never feel as sharp during a flight as you do on the ground.

There’s less oxygen circulating in the cabin, and that combined with the low cabin pressure and humidity levels contributes to you feeling a bit tired and not nearly as productive. And this is before that glass or two of wine…

Plan your work, then work to your plan

Meals make for a complication in all this. Most flights departing Australia tend to serve a meal within two hours of take-off, which can be just when you’re firing on all cylinders with that report or presentation.

After dinner and a glass of wine you’re well into the flight and tiredness starts to settle in. 

A glass of wine can spark the end of your productivity, so it's worth getting essential work done beforehand.

One way to handle this is to attack the largest and most urgent slabs of work as your priority. Use some time in the airport lounge to start getting them into shape – and keep working on them for the 20 minutes between boarding and when you're ready for take-off, then pick things up again once you're flying.

By the time your meal arrives you’ll usually be ready for a break. If not, opt for the ‘express meal’ to save time, or ask that your meal be held back and served when you're ready – especially if you've chosen to take your main meal in the lounge and can then have a lighter spread of starters and salads.

Post-dinner can be 'optional' time for attacking small tasks such as emails, invoices and shorter documents – basically nibbling away at the workload for another hour or two – but at pretty much any time you can switch off to catch a movie or some sleep, still having tackled the bulk of your work.

Don’t forget to sleep!

Some people get ‘into the zone’ and end up working for an entire flight. However, this can be the fast track to jetlag, especially on flights to the US which touch down early in the morning.

If your body clock is still set to Australian time when you land in the US, you’re in for one of the most unproductive days you can imagine – and one which could easily negate the benefits of working all the way through your flight.

Make sure to build plenty of sleeping time into your in-flight schedule.

So pace yourself, and plan what duration of the flight you’ll work through and when you’ll grab some shut-eye. A quick power nap can sometimes be all you need to jumpstart creativity. 

And remember: you’re guaranteed to have a less restful sleep in the plane than you would at home, and you’ll probably end up waking almost hours before landing, as breakfast is being served.