How to Mentally Prepare for a Flight with Plane Anxiety
Don’t let fear stand in the way of living your life nomadically
Phone? Check. Passport? Check. Wallet, pets, kids, and your dignity? Checkmate! As simple as hopping on a plane is, it’s actually anything but. Sure, flying shaves off a few hours (or days) than traveling by car but a lot more goes into it.
As in-air passengers, the only control that we have is what we pack and how we react to stressful airport vibes. This can cause a hockey bag’s worth of strain that feels impossible to shake. However, there are a few things that we can do to make flying less anxiety-filled and more hopeful.
IT’ A MENTAL GAME
Our fears have a tendency of making us believe that we are incapable of handling hard situations on our own. Flying makes many of us anxious, which leads to horrific thoughts, nightmares, and lying to ourselves. But flying doesn’t need to be so scary. You are capable of anything.
Meditation is a wonderful way to envision good things for your flight and to feel better about your upcoming journey. You don’t need to sit in an empty room chanting by any means, but you can visualize how effortless your day can be. (Security was a breeze! Everyone was so accommodating. My kids were so well-behaved. Our flight was smooth!) Training your mind before a flight is similar to training your mind before a big game or meeting. Take a deep breath, visualize how easy the day will be, and believe it’ll happen.
Some helpful meditation apps to download before the flight are Calm, Smiling Mind, and Headspace. There are even apps that can help a nervous flyer get through the flight, like Soar and SAM.
LET’S GET PHYSICAL
I can’t be the first person to tell you that exercise releases endorphins and make you happier (Elle Woods said it best!). Doing small physical acts to ease some tension is a wonderful tool. Depending on how the day goes or what time your flight is, fitting in an early workout can do wonders for your mind, body, and soul. You’ll work off some unwanted nerves, feel clearer mentally, and be more grounded.
If you’re at the airport for an extended layover or maybe you’re just early for your flight, what’s the harm in doing some stretches and deep breathing exercises while you wait? Focusing on your body and mind in the eye of the storm is more important than sitting in fear.
GOODNIGHT, MOON
Getting a good night’s sleep before a flight is pretty much impossible for anxious flyers. There’s so much worry around waking up on time and “did I forget to pack underwear?!” that sleeping through the night is out of the question.
Knowing that sleeping could be difficult is a great chance to get in #ZenMode. Take a nice warm bath or shower, get in your coziest pajamas that make you comfortable, and pour yourself a mug of Camomile tea. Creating a safe space and gentle area before a big travel day can make all the difference. A goodnight’s sleep will make for an even better next day.
PULL A PHARRELL AND GET HAPPY
We’re so busy worrying about flying that we forget about the things that make us happy. Is it watching Bravo with a face mask on? Is it a glass of wine while FaceTiming your bestie? Whatever it is that makes you feel happy and like your true self — do it! Feeling good will make you forget all about those pre-flight jitters. On the day of, keep the good vibes flowing with entertaining podcasts (like Breaking the Ice Pod!) playlists, or movies playing through your earphones so that you’re in your own happy world that can’t be disrupted.
YOU GOT THIS!
Being 30,000 feet in the air seems intimidating but if we view flying as being one step closer to our destination, it can shift our entire mindset. If a goodnight’s sleep, meditation apps, and working out isn’t for you, fear not! There are even more ways to conquer that anxiety.
Name your fear: There are some professionals who suggest naming your fear. Giving a silly name to your fear of flying has the ability to take away its power and its scariness. (There’s always a Karen at the airport anyway, right?) Turning that anxiety into a fictional character with a goofy name is a lot less intimidating (and kind of fun!).
Talk to your flight attendants: There’s nothing wrong with letting your flight attendants know that you’re uneasy with flying. Most flight attendants will continue to check on you during the flight and ask if there’s anything you need to be more comfortable. Flying can take a lot out of a person, so it’s nice having someone look after you during those scary moments.
Know your triggers: What is it about flying that makes you anxious? It’s important to break down the areas that upset you so that you can learn to conquer them. Is it the turbulence? Is it being high off the ground? Is it flying without a partner? It’s easier to squash our fears when we know why it’s upsetting us.
Take care of your mind, body, and soul, and remind yourself that you’re capable of doing anything. Taking a plane is a privilege that brings us closer to our loved ones, our vacations, our jobs, and beyond. Only you can control how you feel and what you allow to upset you. More importantly, remind yourself that you’re not alone! Millions of people have a fear of flying but these tips and tricks are the beginning of a new chapter to make flying easier on the mind and body. Safe travels!
