12 Jul How to Feel Great (and Stress Free) When Flying

If you are a frequent traveler (you road warriors know who you are), or even just a pleasure traveler, then this post is for you! You see, out of desperation to find an affordable air fare I scooped up a ticket that had a 5 (FIVE!) hour layover in Chicago’s O’Hare airport

I am an airline veteran and already know to arrive at the airport early, pack lightly or check in my bags, drink A LOT of water, get out of my (aisle) seat frequently, stretch, make ankle circles and carry a small inflatable back pillow with me on all trips. But this trip, I did something different which made all the difference in the world!

First of all, despite leaving my house at 6:30am, I actually got a good night’s sleep the night before. Often I toss and turn, afraid that my alarm will fail and I’ll miss the flight. This time, I set two alarms.   Then, I wore loose clothing, chose comfy shoes, packed a healthy breakfast with me and drank water before getting on the first flight.

When I got to O’Hare, instead of sitting and waiting for my next flight, I decided to walk around the terminal for about 30 minutes and get in some exercise.  Lo and behold, I stumbled upon a Yoga Room! (SFO has this too and I hope this is a growing trend!) So instead of checking my e-mail and delving into a work project, I went in and immediately felt calm as I basked in the soothing music and attractive room. I took a yoga mat out of the beautiful basket and did about 20 minutes worth of yoga stretches and some restorative poses. Then, I found an indoor urban garden which was quiet. And I read, did some work and ate a healthy salad for lunch and drank more water.

I found a comfy chair and after doing some work and then a little reading, I  headed to the Xpres Spa and had a short massage which was a little slice of heaven.

When I finally arrived at my destination, I walked some more just to get my body in motion before renting my car and sitting some more! I have to say that after a 15 hour travel day, I arrived surprisingly refreshed and energized!

So, next time you travel, a short or long distance, try these helpful tips because they really really work!

• Drink a lot of water (8 ounces every 2 hours)
• Bring your own healthy snacks and meals.
• Dress comfortably and avoid tight fitting clothes.  (Ladies, avoid high heels.)
• Keep your carry on items light or on wheels.
• Get up and walk the aisle, stretch and move around.
• Take advantage of airport amenities – especially for long layovers.
• When you land, stretch, walk and then, rest.

What do you do to stay comfortable and stress free when you travel?  Leave us a comment and share your tips and tricks!

Until the Next Time!

Vivienne