How to Occupy Time on a Plane

Whether traveling for business or pleasure, it may be necessary to reach your travel destination by plane. Air travel is one of the quickest modes of transportation, but it often heightens a person’s level of anxiety and in some cases it is not the most comfortable and relaxing experiences. Depending on the length of the plane flight, there is also a tendency for boredom to set in. In any case, the best way to approach a plane flight is to find different ways occupy time on a plane. This will help lessen the stress that accompanies flying on a plane, and go a long way toward making the flight pass more quickly.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Books
• Magazines
• Portable music player (CD or MP3 Player)
• CDs
• Portable DVD player
• Hand held video game
• Puzzle book
• Craft
• Deck of cards
• Writing journal
• Comfortable neck pillow

1. Read your way to your travel destination. Bring a couple of books and a few of your favorite magazines. Reading is a common and great way to take the mind off of traveling, while relaxing a person during the flight. It can also make a person tired, and this can coach them into a nap during the flight.
2. Bring a portable music player like a CD player with a selection of CDs or MP3 player fully loaded with favorite tunes. Also, a CD player can be used to listen to audio books, and, instead of reading, a person can listen to a book being read to them.
3. View the in flight movie. Watching a movie on the plane can take a person’s mind of the whole flying experience. However, it may be uncomfortable to stretch and see the movie that is playing on the plane. In this case, it might be a good idea to bring a portable DVD player, headset for privacy and several movies to watch.
4. Play video games. Hand held video game platforms are very popular with the kids of today, but they can be equally enjoyable by many adults and a good way to occupy time on a plane.
5. Test and tease the mind with puzzle books. There are many different types of puzzle books available for purchase such as Sudoku, crossword and word search.
6. Do a craft. Small portable crafts that do not take up a lot of space are good ways to relax and make the time go a little faster. Good crafts might be needlepoint, crocheting and knitting.
7. Bring a deck of cards. This is a good way to mingle with the person sitting next to you, or just tackle in flight boredom. There are many versions of Solitaire that can give you endless hours of pastime while on a plane.
8. Start a travel journal or a personal diary. Writing in a journal can be therapeutic, especially for the person that experiences anxiety and panic whenever they have to fly on a plane.
9. Make small talk conversation with family or friends you are traveling with, or converse with person(s) sitting next to you. However, you should only strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you if they give of that “vibe” of being willing and wanting of a conversation. When you can sense that the person next to you would rather keep to themselves, then it is best to avoid conversation with them.
10. Catch a few winks of sleep. Sleeping a flight away is a good way to rejuvenate during travels, especially when the flight is long. Bring along a comfortable neck pillow, which will help you avoid achieving an annoying kink in the neck.

Tips & Warnings

• On long plane flights, it is important to remember to stay adequately hydrated. Stay away from beverages that dehydrate like carbonated beverages and alcohol, and stick with juices and water. This will help you ward off possible jetlag or flight exhaustion.
• Get up, when you are authorized, and stretch your legs or do a slight stroll around the plane. This will help you stay comfortable and avoid muscle stiffening.