10 (Outside-The-Box) Air Travel Wellness Tips

Airports and airplanes, in my opinion, are bad for your health. Between the excessive radiation, the lack of fresh air, the irritating florescent lighting, all of the stress that goes along getting to the gate, and the prolonged physical confinement, our physicality inevitably takes a hit. We’ve all heard of someone going away on vacation and coming back with a cold and saying, “it was the airport!” Some people seem to be unfazed by flying, but for most of us, we’ve got to have a coping strategy. Here’s mine: 

1. I exercise before I go. Even if I have to leave my house at 4am, I exercise. A 10 minute dog walk, or some simple yoga stretches, will do. 
2. I bring alcohol wipes (a pocket full) and sanitize pretty much everything I touch, like my luggage handle, my phone, the TSA bins, etc. 
3. I carry-on a travel sized essential oil to rub on my hands and sniff in. This livens me up, smells great and also sanitizes a little. My go-to lately has been grapefruit.
4. I opt out of security scanners, both the facial scan and the body scan, and instead get the pat down. All you have to do is tell the TSA agent “I opt out” and they’ll bring someone over to search you. The powers that be say scanners are fine, but I have a strong distrust of those machines. In the past, they have given me instant headaches. 
5. I buy an $8 Evian water after I get through security. Spring water is my personal preference, but choose whatever kind you like – staying hydrated is good for everything, including your immune system. 
6. I always carry-on a cozy scarf and wrap it around my neck while on the plane. I also put on a thick pair of socks. Warmth is gold. 
7. I would never, in a million years, drink airplane coffee, tea or an alcoholic beverage. It’s dehydrating and the water they use to make tea and coffee on planes is low quality. 
8. Once I’m in my seat, I put my hair in a high bun, slather on some sort of face and hand moisture (a travel sized pomegranate seed oil is my latest go-to). I also attempt to sleep (which doesn’t always happen, but I try). Beware, skin can dry out fast while flying. 
9. By the time my plane has landed, I’ve finished my bottle of water and maybe had a couple “water no ice” drinks offered to me by the flight attendant. My cells are plumped up!
10. I drive away from the airport like a bat out of hell, and as soon as I can post-flight, I get into nature. “Nature” might translate to a hotel balcony for some fresh air, a barefoot walk on a beach, or simply hugging a tree. Good for body and soul. 

As I review these air travel wellness tips – all ten of them – I see they boil down to being organized/planning ahead and not being afraid of looking a little weird. That combo is how I live my whole life!  I’m cool with the weirdo label, aren’t you? What I’m not cool with is being unwell.  

Bon voyage….✈️
Let’ s Move!