Jhanvi Gupta

Oil, Water… or a Shaken Bottle?

Some people separate work and travel like oil and water. Me? I like to shake the bottle and see what spills. I was in a tiny airport lounge somewhere between Bangalore and Singapore, my laptop open, a cup of lukewarm coffee sweating beside it. On my screen, spreadsheets and KPIs screamed for attention. Around me, travellers scrolled, napped, rushed. And I realized something: the hustle doesn’t stop just because you’ve swapped your desk for a window seat over the clouds.

Travel Changes the Lens

Here’s the twist - travel changes the way you work. A spreadsheet feels different when sunlight bounces off the wing of a plane. A problem that felt impossible at home suddenly unravels in the calm chaos of a new city. Even meetings feel lighter, ideas more colourful - because somewhere between terminals and taxis, the mind stops being linear.

The Sweet Tension

There’s something addictive about balancing deadlines with the thrill of discovery. I still remember wrapping up a client call just as the sun dipped over Marina Bay. For a split second, I forgot about work entirely - but only for a second, because a stubborn spreadsheet cell still haunted me. That’s the tension: work and wonder fighting for attention, sharpening each other in the process.

The Hidden Perk of Limited Time

Travel is sold as a break: new streets, new food, new moments to pause. But here’s the hidden perk - it forces you to work with clarity. When every minute is precious, you stop overthinking and start creating. When you land in a new city, you start noticing details - the rhythm of streets, the way locals sip tea, how light hits the skyline. Those details seep into your work, making it more thoughtful, more human.

Work and Travel: Frenemies at Best

So here’s my unexpected truth: Work and travel aren’t enemies. They’re frenemies. They fight, they clash, but they also sharpen each other. Deadlines feel more urgent, emails feel lighter, and victories - big or small, feel sweeter when celebrated from a new corner of the world.

Final Boarding Call

Next time you’re dreading a trip, don’t just endure it. Let it teach you. Let the airport lounges, unfamiliar streets, fleeting sunsets, and yes, even the chaotic schedules, make your work feel a little bigger, a little brighter, and a lot more alive.

Because sometimes, the best meetings happen when you’re not in a meeting room at all.