5 Ways Tech Can Help You Destress and Relax on an Airplane
Cramped seats, busy flights, and unexpected turbulence may leave even the most experienced airline passengers feeling agitated and unable to play casino games real money to relief stress. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways that technology can help you relax and manage tension at elevations of 10,000 feet or more.
- Practice Meditation
Use the flight time to practice meditation. The Oak – Meditation & Breathing app allows you to create unique meditations with a variety of peaceful background sounds.
The app is basic and easy, with sections for both mindful and loving kindness meditations, as well as unguided meditation. Set the duration, any background sounds, and optional chimes to indicate the start and end of the practice.
The app provides a mild introduction to meditation for those interested in it, with a part for breathing and sleep exercises as well as courses to help you go deeper into the practice.
- Zone Out
Distract yourself from tension with the vast variety of media available to most airplane passengers. If feasible, invest in the best travel headphones and listen to a range of music, audiobooks, or shows. (For in-flight entertainment, bring a pair with a headphone jack.
The Kanopy app, which is available for free on phones and tablets, allows you to watch movies, documentaries, and series with a linked library card, but you won’t be able to access sites like www.operationgoldstar.org or any platform for that matter.
Catch up on a reality show, see an Oscar-winning film, or learn something new with a video from The Great Courses. There are thousands of free videos available, so there is something for everyone.
- Give Progressive Muscle Relaxation a Try
This technique helps to relieve stress throughout the body by intentionally contracting and then relaxing the muscles. According to Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, gradual muscle relaxation can help relieve stress and anxiety.
Follow the Johns Hopkins Medical video from your airplane seat for some in-flight relaxation.
- Reduce Flight Stress With an App
If you’re afraid about flying, consider investing in some apps that can help alleviate this specific—and quite common—type of anxiety. The SimpliFly app, for example, teaches about plane mechanics and air travel in general, including the numerous protections in place to address concerns such as severe weather.
Start off by answering a few questions about your flying experience and probably scenarios that disturb you. The app, developed by an airline pilot, includes several instructional videos and audio recordings that illustrate why commercial flights are generally a safe way of transportation.
Most importantly, the app addresses airplane anxiety with empathy and compassion, while also reminding users that hundreds of thousands of passengers fly safely every day. It’s an excellent app to review before taking off for the next flight or to browse from your airplane seat for a bit of in-air assurance.
- Attempt to Sleep
Although it is sometimes easier said than done, sleeping on a flight is one of the most effective strategies to reduce flying anxiety and stress. The Sleepiest app includes more than 440 calming bedtime stories, 250 sleep meditations, and relaxing sleep sounds. Even if you can’t slumber in the sky, it’s a great method to relieve stress and relax.
Visit the Library area to browse the app’s numerous meditations, soundscapes, and stories—the sheer volume of content is remarkable. There’s also the option to sort by narrator if a specific voice helps you relax.
The meditations, which range in length from 10 to 40 minutes, enable you to practice positive affirmations, conduct body scans, and engage in a variety of visualization exercises. Imagine exploring a therapeutic market in New Zealand or admiring a waterfall-filled landscape.
Meanwhile, the sleep sound section provides ambient sounds and relaxing music. Enjoy binaural soundscapes or soft river sounds to make the airline seat more comfortable.