Monday, July 30, 2012

Excuse me, can I have the aisle seat?

I don't know about you, but I get nervous when I (or Erik) go on trips, especially flights.  The possibility of terrible things happening is slim, but I like to think of myself as that special 1 percent because I'm just that cool.  

So what to do to calm those nerves down?  Here are a few things I've learned over the several flights I've taken.

1.  Music.  Have a calming playlist of your most comforting tunes and listen to it often.  I find music to be one of the most therapeutic things I can do in situations where I feel anxious.  The second being putting a hood up and hiding from the world.

2.  Wear something that puts you at ease.  I like to look nice (recall previous post) and knowing I don't look like a train wreck helps me feel better.  I also like hoodies.  Do what is going to make you feel the best, and if it means wearing a smashing outfit while donning your old college sweatshirt, more power to you.

3.  Educate yourself.  You know that emergency planning video they show at the beginning?  I watch it.  I also study the little fold-out.  Even though I've flown a lot, it makes me feel a little more at ease to refresh my memory.

4.  Enjoy your time before the flight.  Usually Erik and I will go to a restaurant for a glass of wine, coffee or a snack, depending on what time of day it is and where we're at in the trip.  It helps to give yourself a little distraction and not spend time before getting on the flight freaking out.  Plus, it feels like a very normal thing to be doing.

5.  Plan.  I definitely pick out my seats.  And often (depending on how long and what time of day it is) I'll choose the aisle seat.  Knowing I can get up and out easily makes me feel better.  I also try to get as close to the emergency exit as I can without being in charge of getting everyone out.  I might freak out at the pressure of trying to open the door for everyone.

Have a great time with your end of summer travels, wherever they may take you!


3 comments:

  1. As dorky as I feel, I too, listen to the flight attendant's speech every single time, while holding the illustrated card of the plane's layout in my hands. Some information could have changed since my last flight an hour before! (It's amazing how they traits are passed on.) See you soon! ~ Aunt Lisa

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  2. Aunt Lisa -- I'm so glad I'm not alone in this! Every time I fly I see all these carefree people paying absolutely no attention and hope that they will actually know what to do if something goes wrong.

    Francesca -- Thank you so much!

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  3. Love number 1 and number 3 - so true! Thanks for the post!

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