It’s January 4th and I’ve been on three flights so far this year. Frequent flyer miles have been a part of my life for over a decade now. Travel has been a big part of my professional life and I love to travel on personal time as well.
Flying is not easy on the body and spirit. Some might think you get better at it with increased frequency but I’m not convinced of that.
I have learned some coping strategies that I thought I’d share.
- Leave lots of time. Running late and trying to rush through an airport is way more stress then you need.
- Pack carry on baggage if possible. Hours of your life will be lost forever waiting for checked baggage. I’ve accepted that it’s okay for people to see me in the same article of clothing twice if it gets me home an hour earlier at the end of the trip.
- Keep toiletries packed as a constant. My makeup bag stays in my suitcase. I don’t pack and unpack it in between trips. That means having two of everything but it is worth it because it saves me time, energy and the frustration of forgetting something.
- Drink lots of water and take your vitamins. Airplanes are big flying germ vessels. I can’t even think about it without cringing.
- Pretending to sleep and wearing big headphones helps to avoid hours of unwanted conversation with the annoying person next to you. Oh the stories I could tell about annoying people in airports. Sounds like a future blog post in the making.
- I’ve become a student of human behavior and people watching at the airport is like taking an advanced class. I pass time by watching, listening and observing. It is fascinating what you can learn.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Most of you won’t believe I said that but it’s true. Of course, your idea of comfortable shoes and mine might be a bit different. 🙂
Flying isn’t glamorous but like most things in life it is more enjoyable with the right attitude. I write this because I often have to give myself an attitude adjustment when I become tired and grumpy traipsing through yet another airport!
Here’s to another year of safe travels for all of us road warriors, please fasten your seats belts and return your chairs to their up right position… we are about to take off!
Wendy Forsythe 
Re: “Pretending to sleep and wearing big headphones helps to avoid hours of unwanted conversation with the annoying person next to you.”
Maybe I need bigger headphones. Even when I’m wearing mine, I still get hit with conversation. And it’s not that I don’t like a good conversation, I do. But some conversations, I can do without entirely.
Earbuds don’t seem to work. You need the bigger headphones for sure!