We've received several questions about managing time, health and safety while on the road. Janelle Barlow is TMI USA's road warrior. She flew over 200,000 actual air miles on United Airlines alone last year, and she's been travelling intensely for the past 15 years. Here is some of her best advice about how to get things done, and how to travel safely with the least adverse effects. 

Organizing your work on airplanes. Start off with your most difficult task first. If you wait until the end of the flight the chances of you doing something significant while you fly is greatly reduced. 

Buy a power cord for your lap top. Your battery on your lap top simply won't last for most long flights. And most planes these days (at least United jets!) have power built right into the seats. But you have to provide your own cord. 

Use airplane time for reading. It's a great place to get all that extra reading done. You can read while waiting in immigation lines, waiting for your luggage, and even waiting to exit the plane. 

Food safety. Only eat piping hot food. When eating fresh vegetables, as in a salad, only do so in restaurants or hotels that cater to foreigners. Wash your fruit over and over again, or peel it. And still expect to get sick if you are travelling out of country. 

Passports. Always make sure you have the necessary visas and work permits when crossing borders. I can't tell you how many people I know who have gone to work in Canada from the United States and have been turned back at the border because they didn't arrange for a work permit. 

Passports. Make several extra copies of the front page of your passport and carry them in different locations. If you ever lose yours, you can take one of these copies to a U.S. embassy or consulate, and they will help you out. 

Medication. Carry any necessary medication on your person in case your luggage is lost or delayed. You'll save yourself a lot of worry and time to avoid this problem. 

Hotel safety. Lock your door at night from the inside. I've been awakened several times at night with people walking into my room. How they got the key is beyond me, but all they do at this point is to rattle the door, because I have deadbolted the door, or used the hasp or chain lock. Always put your hotel key (or card) in the same location so you can easily find it. 

Exercise. Just because you are travelling doesn't mean you get to stop your exercise! You can always find something to do in hotels. If nothing else, you can climb staircases. Ride the elevator down, and then climb up the exit staircases, so you don't hurt your knees. I carry an aerobic exercise tape with me to use if a swimming pool is not available. Be careful if you are running in areas with which you are unfamiliar. I've had a knife pulled on me while running in Washington D.C. I had no idea I was in a risky neighborhood. There's always some way to get safe exercise. In airports you can walk up and down the terminals. It's a great people-watching opportunity.  

Janelle M. Barlow, President  
TMI, USA  

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