Are you planning to travel? Then you must plan also to get stuck at the airport. With the way the weather is working, things aren’t looking good for a smooth flight to the middle of snow country. But there are things you can do to help relieve the stress you know is coming. For example, several stress reduction experts say simple things, such as making sure you get enough sleep the night before your flight, could improve your stress response the next day in the midst of a delay. Well, here are some good suggestions you might consider:

  • Plan on getting delayed: Anticipating the challenges that may develop when you’re facing a major negative event will help organize your response. Some experts suggest bringing enough books to read, making sure the laptop is charged, distracting the kids with a portable video game, or staying in touch with family and friends via cell phone.
  • Expand your toolbox of coping skills: Some people appear less stressed because they have better coping skills. In addition, several experts recommend using headphones to reduce noise stress.
  • Seek out comfortable seating: Stuffy heat and too many strangers nearby could activate stress responses in your body, then if you are going to have to wait for a long time try to find an area that is not hot and overly crowded.
  • Get moving: Exercise is one of the best things people can do to reduce the physiological response to stress you may benefit from periodically walking up and down the concourse or just moving around.
  • Make an escape: Leave the airport during long delays, if you have the financial means and are going to be stuck for more than a day, try to get out of the airport and hang out in town. This is the ultimate way to beat airport stress and can sometimes turn a trip-wrecker into a novel vacation.
  • Get a massage: Those airport massage stations are there for a reason … massage reduces the body’s stress response.
  • Beware the bar: Lower levels of alcohol can be a relaxant, but if you stay too long at the bar, you’re likely to create more problems. Refrain from overdoing alcohol because it actually is likely to make things worse.

MORE RELATED ARTICLES: