Tips for Air Travel

Stress-Free Air Travel

So you have decided to take a well-deserved break from the grind of daily work and head North, South, East or West (anywhere but home!)?   Perhaps you are a business person who lives out of an overnight bag and commutes among a myriad of cities across the continent or globe?  Whatever the reason for your travel, it has to be through the air.

Air travel has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few decades.  Yet there are still a wealth of factors inherent in air travel that can cause undue stress and pain to the weary traveller.  Long lines, cramped seats, waiting areas and being cooped up in a tin can with someone coughing beside you can make the travel experience less than a rosy one.  However, with a few tips and tricks the air travel experience can become less like work and more like a vacation.

Tip #1 – Sleep!

This can be tough for those of us whom, like myself, are obsessed with the scheduling and itinerary involved in air travel.  It can be difficult to get a good nights sleep when your mind is racing with all of the minutiae such as when to get to the airport, how to find parking, and which terminal to check-in at.  While the small things can add up, and create stress, you will be far more able to adapt and deal with each problem with a full eight hours of sleep and a clear mind.  The recuperative processes that occur during deep sleep will enable you to maintain proper energy levels and prevent illness as you travel as well.

Tip #2 – Stretch!

Raise your hand if you stretch every day…didn’t think so!  In a perfect world we would be able to convince everyone to stretch at some point every day.  However, the need for a proper stretch increases dramatically when your day includes travel.  You are going to be placing your body in several different, and sometimes uncomfortable, positions over the course of your travel and it is vital to have the increased blood flow and range of motion in the muscles and joints that stretching produces.  Taking fifteen minutes in the morning before your travel to stretch could save you days or weeks of cramped and achy joints.

Tip #3 – Eat, and take your vitamins!

Taking the time to eat a healthy and balanced breakfast provides you with the energy and vigor to face your travel day.  I recommend a breakfast of complex carbohydrates and some protein before heading to the airport, such as a bowl of oatmeal with an egg or two and a cup of coffee.  The benefits of a healthy breakfast are twofold, as it will give you energy and prevent you from purchasing a relatively more “empty calorie” meal at the airport (there is a reason doughnut shops and fast food chains are camped out in the waiting lounge after all!).  Also, having a full stomach will allow you to take your vitamins/supplements before you travel.  As you are going to be cooped up in an area with re-circulated air (and there is ALWAYS someone who is sick or coughing etc.) having appropriate levels of vitamins cycling through your body will allow it to fight of illness and infection.  I recommend a good quality multivitamin and perhaps some extra vitamin C on the morning of your flight.

Air travel can be a stressful and painful experience even for the most seasoned traveler. However, we hope that these and other tips can aid in making the process as smooth and easy as possible.  So grab your passports and enjoy!

Photo Credits: airtrent