For millions of travelers worldwide, flying is the opposite of a calm and peaceful experience. Flight anxiety is real, and sometimes it can be crippling, especially during turbulence. However, hope is not lost! Recently, frequent fliers met in an online discussion to reveal the best tips and strategies for staying calm during your next flight.
1. Compare To Other Forms of Transportation
The next time you’re fighting anxiety in the air, think about the alternatives. Flying is infinitely safer than traveling by car, bus, or train. Remember, the most dangerous part of your trip was the car ride to the airport, so if you dodged that bullet, you’re overwhelmingly in the clear! Inside a plane is one of the safest places to be — whether you acknowledge that fact or not.
2. Fly More
Countless frequent fliers are near-unanimous in proclaiming that the best way to stay calm is to fly more. According to many travelers, the more you fly, the more relaxing — and mundane — it becomes. If you suffer from anxiety while flying, you probably need a few more flights under your belt! Don’t worry; flights will become second nature at some point.
3. Do Your Research
Nobody likes dealing with turbulence when you’re tens of thousands of feet in the air! However, once you research turbulence, you’ll discover that it’s nothing to worry about. “The amount of turbulence modern planes can handle is actually kinda mind-blowing,” explains one man. “Do a bit of research on it to soothe that worry.”
4. Invest in Noise-Canceling Headphones
Eliminating outside noise and disturbances is one of the easiest ways to make yourself calm — and utilizing noise-canceling headphones while flying will do just that! Some headphones from Sony automatically adjust their settings based on an airplane’s pressure. By doing so, they’ll increase your comfort — and hopefully put you at ease during turbulence.
5. Look at the Flight Crew
One of the best tips is to turn to the flight crew for help relaxing — and perhaps take a page out of their book! “For me, looking at the flight crew who are just doing their job in a relaxed manner helps because then I can kinda mimic their relaxedness,” confesses one woman. “If they’re fine after flying every working day of their lives, surely I’ll make it.” What a great point. After all, has anyone ever seen a flight attendant look nervous or anxious?
6. Have a Few Drinks
While I am not advising anyone to get blackout drunk for their next flight, having a few drinks before takeoff can certainly calm even the most stressed-out traveler. Alcohol in sensible amounts can lower your inhibitions and keep your mind from focusing on your flying-induced stress. In addition, having a few adult beverages before takeoff can make sleeping easier.
7. Close Your Eyes
Sometimes, our parents’ advice is more valuable than any statistic, advice, or stiff drink. “My dad told me years ago the best way to deal with turbulence is to close your eyes and imagine you’re in an old truck on a bumpy road,” reveals one man. “It works.” I can’t wait to put this advice to good use the next time I fly!
8. Look at the Passengers Around You
If turbulence makes you nervous, use my frequently employed strategy: Look around. I guarantee you’ll find many people calmly reading books, engaging in friendly conversation, or getting much-needed sleep. Focus on those people! They are the experienced fliers who aren’t worried about a bit of turbulence — and if they aren’t, it should be a sign that you shouldn’t, either.
9. Keep Your Mind Focused Elsewhere
Many people report that keeping their mind focused on something other than the possible perils of flying 20,000 feet in the air at a high rate of speed does wonders for their stress levels. “I’ve flown a lot, but the last few times, I’ve started being nervous during landing and takeoff,” reports one man. “But generally, I’ve realized that once I’m in the air, there’s nothing I can do to change the situation, so I just read a book.”
10. Talk To Other Passengers
If all else fails and you still find yourself experiencing anxiety when flying, it’s time to take your mind off it. Countless travelers report that starting up conversations with their seatmates can take their minds off their stress. Engaging in a friendly chat about anything will pass the time quickly and distract you from being worried. Try it next time you’re in the air!
11. Consider the Statistics
Numbers don’t lie. Numbers represent truth. Therefore, use statistics to your advantage. One intelligent traveler puts everything into perspective. “Statistically, if you took one flight a day, every day, for the rest of your life, you’d be involved in a fatal accident once every 1200 years,” she explains. “Dying in a plane crash is literally like winning the world’s worst lottery, but it’s something you won’t have to worry about.”
Source:Â Reddit.
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