What’s your most valuable tool on the road? A full cell phone battery? Comfortable shoes? I’m going to guess that somewhere on that list is time. Between flight departures and hotel check-ins, your schedule needs careful planning to ensure you’re getting things done (and that you don’t push yourself too hard!) We can’t make more time for you, but we have a few tips on being more productive while finding a little time for yourself while on the road:

On an Airplane

Working on a plane means thinking ahead, but more importantly, it means you’ve got to get your mind set on the task at hand. Learn how on Gizmodo.com: http://gizmo.do/h0kpui

Stuck in an Airport

Delayed flights are a downer for a business traveler, but a small power strip in your carry-on can keep you moving during unplanned layovers. More at eHow: http://bit.ly/hdE88m

Changing Your Reservations

When life does throw you a curve ball, we understand that even the best-laid plans can change last-minute. Reach out to any Country Inns & Suites hotel with a travel change by accessing your reservation at http://bit.ly/fzSlj0.

As fun as it can be to get out and see the Country, it’s easy to lose a little connection with home. Fortunately, the web has you covered with some great services and applications that make it easier for you to keep in touch. We’ve picked the best of the best to consider the next time you’re away from a familiar zip code.

Skype

Skype is useful tool for face-to-face time with loved ones, as the primary feature is video-based chat. Phone calls are great, but they can mean so much more when you can actually see the other person. There’s also an option to download a mobile application for quick connections on the go. Sounds like the cab ride from the airport just got a whole lot more enjoyable.

Path
For fans of Facebook, Path is a personal network that invites you to set up a personal network of up to 50 people, giving you greater comfort in sharing your travel details. Path offers features like status updates, photo and video sharing, and with a smaller reach, you can share with people who mean the most to you.

TextPlus
TextPlus is a group chat option for users of the popular Apple devices, like the iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad; send group messages and share pictures without having to manually enter individual name. The service is available over Wi-Fi, or 3G from locations within the U.S. and Canada.

Country Inns & Suites Free High-Speed Internet
Of course, when you’re looking for ways to stay connected, remember that we’re focused on re-creating the experience you’re used to at home. Enjoy free, high-speed Internet access at our more than 500 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

More than 90,000 books will help promote learning and literacy in Greater Kansas City.

I’m so excited to tell you about some great news from Country Inns & Suites and how we have extended hospitality beyond the four walls of our hotel and out into the community.

If you’ve taken advantage of our Read It & Return Lending Library^SM, you know we see reading as a vital everyday activity – either by yourself, or with the family. So we’re thrilled to be able to share our surplus books last week – all 90,000 of them! – with the United Way of Kansas City, for distribution to its more than 50 partner agencies.

The donation, which was announced at an event last Tuesday, included selections of fiction, non-fiction, mystery/suspense and self-help, and titles including Moon Over Manhattan and Show Boat, along with family books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Nancy Drew Mysteries. But the key was seeing how grateful the partner agencies were to receive the donation and to hear stories of how the books will be used.

You can read more in this story by the Kansas City Star.

I Love this Country!

In support of the current “Country Means Business” promotion, Road Warriorette will be featuring a weekly sponsored post on behalf of Country Inns & Suites and has been compensated by Country Inns & Suites for her contribution.

When you travel for work constantly, you practice a lot of skills; packing, unpacking, navigating airport security, and checking into hotels quickly come to mind. But perhaps the most important thing road warriors practice is staying productive. It is so tempting to stretch out on that comfy hotel bed, reach for the remote, and zone out while waiting for room service. Unfortunately, that means that the hundred emails that built up during your meetings go unanswered, and you have to suffer through the backlog when you get home. Over the years, I’ve developed strategies for getting my work completed without making myself into a crazy workaholic. It’s not a perfect system, and is always evolving, but I get way more done than I used to.

• Get your mind in the game. A lot of being productive is mindset. I don’t want to work right now! I want to catch up on Grey’s Anatomy! Whenever I travel on a Thursday, I inevitably think this when it’s time to work. Sometimes the only thing that gets me going is a reminder that by watching TV now, I will have to work more at home, leaving less time to hang out with my husband, dogs, and friends. Plus I DVR my favorite shows, which means they will take even less time to watch at home.

• Set up wherever you can work. What does business mean to you? When I am at home, I don’t work at a desk, but in my favorite armchair. I have discovered that in a hotel, my most productive workplace is the armchair, with my feet up. If my room has no chair, I will try the bed or desk, but will often end up in the hotel lobby. For that matter, if you get tired or distracted in your room, the lobby can be a great place to work. And there is often never ending coffee. (Check out the great lobby areas at Country Inns & Suites! Armchairs and fireplaces make a great place to work.)
• Make a list. I know, it’s standard advice, but I love lists and find they solve all sorts of problems. I can motivate myself more when I see the progress I’m making, and what I have yet to do. As I cross items off, it gives me a great feeling of accomplishment, and I am that much more productive moving forward.
• Take advantage of any downtime. As road warriors, we all know that our office is anywhere we set up our laptops. Take advantage of “found” time to get your tasks done. If you arrive at the airport earlier than you expected, rather than flip through Us Weekly you can go through your emails. If your meeting starts late, it’s a great time to fine-tune a presentation. And for those of you can work while flying, you can get much done en route to your next destination.
• Reward yourself. Once you’ve completed everything, give yourself something nice. Indulge in a bath, eat a great meal or finally watch that show. You’ve earned it!

One final reminder: don’t make yourself crazy. Yes, we all have work we have to do, and it is easy to get sucked in. But working non-stop can do more harm than good. Just step away from the computer for a few minutes and clear your mind. Walk around the building, talk to a friend, eat a chocolate, or just zone out. It’s important to be productive, but not work so hard that you make yourself sick!

About Road Warriorette

Road Warriorette is a twenty-something professional who travels for work.  A lot. At her blog Road Warriorette, she shares advice, observations, and insights for women who travel for work, or for fun, or who would like to travel more.

Eat better, exercise more, be more organized—January means New Year’s resolutions, and a fresh start for many of us. Being on the road, however, presents its own unique set of challenges; tight schedules and unfamiliar routines can make it hard to stick to a healthier diet or a plan for better personal fitness. These links will give you a few ideas so your resolutions take a front seat to your travel plans.

Eat Healthy
Packing (or buying) your own snacks at home and eating lean meats during airport layovers will help you stay energized while on the road. Check out more ideas from USA Today: http://bit.ly/fdq97j

Get Fit
Not enough time in the morning to find a gym on the road? No problem—check out this 20-minute in-room workout routine by Road & Travel Magazine: http://bit.ly/evCUue

Stay Organized
Looking for a more organized work life on the road? GigaOM recommends starting by working off your priority list, not your email inbox. More here: http://bit.ly/f5BupP

Country Inns & Suites Be Our Guest Breakfast
Did you know we offer a hot breakfast every morning with rotating entrees like omelets or eggs benedict, and yogurt parfaits? Find your favorites from home: http://countryinns.com/breakfast.

Join us for our first installment of #biztriptip, a Twitter chat that we’re hosting on business travel topics this month, just in time for our Country Means Business promotion. Throughout January, we’ll share great tips for creating relaxing, productive business trips, and all you need to do is follow the #biztriptip hashtag on Twitter to join the conversation.

Our first one-hour chat will occur at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Wednesday, Jan. 12, and we’ll discuss the best tips for staying productive while on the road. Sometimes travel feels like work, but then again, things don’t stop at the office. What are the best ways to get your work finished and make sure have a little “me time?”

We welcome veteran business travelers, first-time business travelers, and anyone interested in general travel topics. You know that Country Means Business; now it’s time to show us how you do business.

Twitter Chat Tip: Tweetchat (http://www.Tweetchat.com) is a great site to use for Twitter chats. Following the hashtag is easy and the website filters out other messages so you can focus just on the conversation.

Let’s face it: Business travel can be stressful—between flight delays and less-than-ideal work spots, there’s a lot to manage. In the midst of all that, our goal is to provide a friendly haven where you can feel like you never left the comforts of home. From our hot breakfast served each morning to high-speed Internet and weekday morning newspapers, we’ve got you covered for a productive morning to start your busy day out of the office.

I’m happy to tell you that we’re extending a special offer to business travelers. From now until February 17, when you book the Country Means Business promotion, you’ll receive 10,000 bonus Gold Points^® when you stay at a Country Inns & Suites By Carlson^SM hotel between Sunday and Thursday (that’s in addition to the standard Gold Points you’ll earn for your stay). Whether you’re working from your room all day or just stopping in for the night, Country Inns & Suites has you covered.

Visit www.countryinns.com/business to learn more.