Fearless Flyer's Coping Carry-on:
Preflight:
Train for your flight as if you were an endurance athlete. Think ahead and prepare
yourself for the following possibilities: delays, long lines, rudeness, lost
luggage, cramped seats, turbulence (fasten your seatbelt!), and inadequate food
and water. Are any of these desirable? No. Are they survivable? Yes! Work at
adopting a resilient, go-with-the-flow and cheerful attitude.
Allow plenty of time. Being early has lots of advantages: less chance of lost
or delayed luggage, possibly a better seat, earlier boarding, extra space, and
maybe a tour of the cockpit. Often unexpected last minute things occur and if
you have allowed extra time it can lessen the stress. Hurrying creates anxiety.
Slow down and breathe deeply. If you arrive early at Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport you can check out the Meditation Room. For over 20 years it has served
as a quiet and peaceful sanctuary for many a weary and/or worried traveler.
Pack a cassette player with tapes of relaxing music and guided stress-reducing
meditation. Bring extra batteries. Also, bring a note card with positive messages
to replace any negative thoughts that come up.
Bring active thought stoppers and diversions: reading material, crossword puzzles,
knitting, playing cards, travel games, paperwork. Try foam earplugs. Some passengers
find these comforting. When we are stressed, noises seem louder.
Try an exercise (practiced prior to flight): muscle relaxation and/or deep breathing.
Check with your doctor regarding decongestants, motion-sickness medication,
herbal and homeopathic stress-reducing formulations.
Inflight:
Dress comfortably. Wear loose clothing and roomy shoes. Inactivity is hard on circulation and the low cabin air pressures (about 8000-ft. on commercial jets) causes the nitrogen gas in our bodies to expand. Avoid carbonated beverages and gaseous foods like apples, melons and beans. Gum chewing is great to help relieve ear blockage during descent, but if chewed during flight you may swallow extra air, which can give you a gassy stomach. Digestion slows down during flight as cabin pressure decreases, so try to eat foods that are easy for you to digest.
Lubricate the inside of the nostrils with antibiotic cream, Vaseline, vitamin E oil, or any edible oil, to help block the spread of airborne germs. Drink lots of water. Relative humidity in-flight drops to 0-10%, drier than any desert, and our bodies rapidly become dehydrated. You can lose up to two pounds of water in a three-hour flight. Start drinking extra water several days before your trip and continue after you arrive. Dehydration worsens jet lag and contributes to the ritual cold many catch after flying. Bring your own bottle of water. Avoid salt, sugar and diuretics like coffee, tea or alcohol. Some passengers find saline eye drops and saline nose sprays very soothing.
Pilots control the airflow in each cabin and the cockpit separately. The greater the airflow, the greater the fuel usage. If you feel that your cabin needs more fresh air, you can ask the flight attendant to request full utilization of airflow. There are oxygen bottles on board that can be administered to passengers individually if they are experiencing the effects of low oxygen levels.
The high noise level in-flight can add to discomfort and fatigue. Noises seem louder than they really are when we are stressed. Foam earplugs work well to muffle the sounds. Perhaps you were looking forward to some quiet time to read, rest or catch up on work, and your seatmate insists on small talk? Some frequent fliers pack an audio headset, which they put on even if not listening to music. But then again, maybe your seatmate will end up your new soulmate!
During boarding try to get a pillow and/or blanket; either can be used for lumbar support. If there is a shortage of pillows and blankets, you can improvise by using a sweater, coat or even a rolled up magazine. When the seat belt sign is off, get up and move around so you can stretch your muscles. While seated you can do isometric exercises. Avoid crossing your legs because it decreases circulation and puts strain on your back. Many airlines offer video or audio stretching routines. With some planning and perseverance your can lessen your "jet stress" and have a healthier and more comfortable flight!