Suggestions for Relaxing During Your Flight for Work

From Gary Chisholm

On a recent business trip, I and my colleagues sat next to a nine-year old boy who had not learned the concept of "the inside voice." For the entire two hour flight, we listened to the boy laugh at the top of his lungs, announce that he was nauseous, and vocalize his every inner thought. It made for a very long, arduous, non-relaxing flight. I figured it might be a good time to suggest some ways in which to relax on your next business trip.

• Drown the Distractions: It is important to create your own personal relaxation zone. If you are going to be productive when your flight touches down, you will want to relax beforehand. Bring a headset to drown out any ambient noise from other passengers or the plane. The headsets that the airlines give out are not really conducive to creating a zone, so bring your own.

If you have an iPod, use it.

• Bring Your Own Food: I am going to pass on making any comments about airline food, but we all know what it tastes like. Bringing your own food onboard can help you relax a bit more, and hopefully get some endorphins flowing (depending on what type of treat suits your fancy; I usually bring a little chocolate). A healthy treat or something sweet will go a long way to helping you relax.
• Focus Outside of Yourself: Bring a book or a CD on the plane. It is important to find some focus outside of yourself so that you can relax. Books and music are good ways to shift your mental focus. Meditation is also a good option. By redirecting your mental energy, you can achieve a more relaxed mental state and be more prepared for your business trip.

These are just some suggestions to help you relax on that next flight for work. The most important key to productivity is being able to create a mental zone of relaxation for yourself. A relaxed professional is a consummate professional.