Effective ‘bleisure’ tips for solopreneurs and beyond

Paid for by National Car Rental

For many solopreneurs, working at home or on the road is not a new concept. Some conduct in-person business with clients all over the country, while others work entirely online and have adopted a “bleisure” lifestyle, which means they often mix business and leisure while traveling.

Either way, it’s always important to find a healthy work-life balance — after all, solopreneurs are likely to juggle a lot of responsibilities. National Car Rental and Dre Brown, a professional makeup artist and empowerment speaker, have collaborated to provide top tips for mastering bleisure travel effectively.

Designate a workspace.

For Brown, it's important to stay productive on any trip, so she prioritizes designating a workspace wherever she travels. But rather than work from a laptop in a hotel room, her pro tip is to use the hotel's business center or even a local coworking space, which provides the opportunity to enjoy social engagement and networking. Most of these spaces are open 24/7, so try to make a psychological commitment to a departure time or add to your agenda the time you would like to "go home" and treat it like an appointment. By doing so, Brown says, she establishes physical boundaries between her workspace and living space, which ensures that her working hours aren’t too late in the day — both methods help her prioritize her wellness, she says.

Create a routine.

Whether you’re working at home, in an office or on a trip, distractions and constant change are plentiful, and staying on top of work to-do’s can become difficult. To make the most of a bleisure trip, Brown creates a routine based on when she’s most productive, and she sticks to it as much as possible. She advises that you should allocate a certain amount of time within that schedule to the most pressing tasks, balancing your time to allow for leisure activities. For example, if you’re an early riser, Brown suggests tackling meetings and client commitments first thing in the morning, as it gives you time to check out your must-visit places later in the day.

Be communicative with clients and colleagues.

In addition to having a routine, it’s also important to let your colleagues and clients know that you’ll be traveling, so they know you may be slower to respond to emails. This open communication helps you set boundaries, while setting expectations with your colleagues and clients about response time and deliverables.

Ensure that your cup stays full.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed while traveling, so squeezing in time for self-care allows you to relax and return to work refreshed. Whether you choose a meditative visit to your destination’s botanical garden or a quick road trip to a nearby city with excellent cuisine or attractions, Brown mentions that there’s always room to replenish yourself when traveling for work or doing work while traveling.

Pick up a National rental car and give yourself the flexibility to explore your destination’s surroundings during your free time or for a few extra days, if you decide to extend your trip. Don’t forget to sign up for National Car Rental’s Emerald Club loyalty program to streamline your experience and earn rewards. You earn one rental credit for every qualified car rental. Accrue seven credits, and you’ll receive a free rental day. You can also bypass the rental counter, choose your vehicle from the Emerald Aisle and pay only the midsize rate (a deal available only in the U.S. and Canada).

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From National Car Rental:

National Car Rental is a premium, internationally recognized car rental brand that serves frequent airport travelers worldwide. With National, time-sensitive customers in the United States can quickly choose their own vehicles, based upon their advance reservation and requested car class, and then simply drive away from the airport. To sign up for the Emerald Club, the car rental industry’s first comprehensive frequent-renter program, visit nationalcar.com.

This article was paid for by National Car Rental and created by Yahoo Creative Studios. The Yahoo Life editorial staff did not participate in the creation of this content.