How to Beat Airplane and Airport Stress (and Even Learn to Enjoy Flying!)

Millions of Americans travel during the holidays. Crowded airplane cabins, long security check lines, and flight delays are all too common at the nation’s nearly 20,000 airports. How can you make your trip as stress free as possible?

Nearly 5 million Americans traveled by airplane over the Thanksgiving holiday, and last year another 9 million took to the skies to visit friends and family over Christmas and New Year’s.

Battling the crowds and making it through security in one piece is not easy. According to a study by neuropsychologist Dr. David Lewis,  it’s more stressful than facing a stone-throwing mob. After fitting four passengers with monitors to record heart rate, blood pressure and psychological stress, Dr. Lewis found that passenger heart rates peaked at four times their resting levels and psychological stress levels “exceeded those recorded amongst Formula 1 racing drivers and free-fall parachutists.”

"We have measured people in all kinds of situations from riot policemen confronting a stone-throwing mob to racing drivers and sky-divers and these are among the highest peaks in heart rate and blood pressure that we have ever seen," said Dr. Lewis.

So for those times when you have to fly no matter what (whether it’s to get your great grandmother’s famous chocolate chip cookies or to make headway on a business deal), how can you arrive at your destination with your mental sanity at least partially intact?

First, remember that no matter how it seems both crowds and noisy places are not at war with you,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training at Sedona Training Associates. “They are simply how the environment is in that particular place at that particular time.”

The key to feeling at ease in any situation -- including while sitting on a noisy airplane or waiting in an intolerably long line -- is knowing how to let go of your anxiety, and actually accepting the situation as it is.

The Sedona Method is a simple tool you can use to  let go in the moment, no matter how stressed  you may feel.

I would recommend that you let go of resisting the environment , and let go of your resistance to the environment in general,” Dwoskin says. “You should also let go of resisting how you feel about it. When you allow what is to be rather then pushing back or resisting it, you feel more comfortable wherever you are.”

Once you learn The Sedona Method, it will become your favorite travel companion. Along with this technique, you can also make your next trip to the airport less stressful by:

• Choosing a smaller airport, which may be less crowded



• Giving yourself plenty of time to make your flight (including getting through security checkpoints)



• Bringing healthy snacks to keep your energy up (many airlines are no longer offering complimentary meals and snacks onboard)



• Carrying on your luggage (and avoiding hassles with lost luggage)



• Making sure your checked bags are securely labeled with your name, address, destination and phone number



• Taking advantage of online check-in, if your airline offers it

For more information on the easy-to-learn Sedona Method, visit our web site at www.sedona.com