Before your trip: How to prepare for your flight
Maeve Power
BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT
24 hours before flight preparation – nutrition and rest
Get a good night’s restThere is no doubt the travel planning and preparing is stressful and mentally draining. Frequent business travel was already tough, now we have the added stress of potentially getting seriously ill. Mental stress is just as exhausting as physical exertion so make sure you get a good night’s sleep before your flight to ensure you are physically and mentally strong. Try and go to bed an hour earlier than normal, avoid drinking at least 2 hours before you lay down and try to avoid screen time. Yes! We’re saying grab a bedtime book.Plan and prepareBeing uncertain in an unfamiliar situation is a common cause of anxiety. Take some time the night before your flight to plan ahead and prepare yourself for the new travel experience. It is likely that you will have received some communication from the airport and the airline you are flying with about new protocols surrounding travel and the airport journey. Read these carefully so you can be prepared and know what you need to do when you arrive at the airport. All airlines tickets are likely to be digital (i.e. on your phone). Add them to your Google or Apple wallet ™ for easy and constant access and make sure to charge your phone.Have some stress relieving techniques on handWhile planning ahead and preparing will help reduce travel stress, it won’t completely erase it. The airport experience is going to be different and for frequent travelers that are set in their routines, this can be a scary thought. Have a set of breathing exercises on hand to help reduce stress and do them whenever you start to feel overwhelmed. By breathing mindfully we can calm our racing thoughts and then reassess the situation with a clear and calm mind. There are a number of meditation tools in the Sanctifly app, check out videos under the relaxation tile.Eat a good meal before you leave for the airportFor many travelers, eating is the only enjoyable thing to do at the airport. Many wait until they get to the airport and through security to fuel up for the trip. This experience CANNOT be relied upon in the near term. The healthiest thing you can do when it comes to eating and traveling is to eat well the day before and the morning of, before you head for the airport, and fast while you are on the road. This strategy will ensure you have control over what you are eating (you won’t end up eating an unhealthy burger and chips because that’s all that was available post security). And it will give you more control over where you spend your airport downtime as you can avoid the food court and other high traffic areas.What to pre-pack to eat (that I can bring on the plane)
Just because you don’t eat a full meal at the airport doesn’t mean you can’t eat anything at all. Pack some snacks so that you don’t get hungry at the airport or on the plane. When choosing snacks to bring with you here are some things to considerCan this food be brought through security?Almost all types of food can be brought through security, however the closer the food is to liquid form, the more restrictions are applied. Anything that can be spread, poured or sprayed is considered a liquid or gel and is subject to relevant security restrictions. You can still bring them, just not more than 100 ml.Will I be able to bring this through security when I arrive?
The idea behind bringing snacks with you while traveling is that you will eat them while on the plane and arrive with an empty bag. However, this may not always be the case. Before you pack your snacks, check the laws for bringing food into the country you are traveling to. As a rule of thumb when traveling outside of a common agriculture area (e.g. EU or US), then any fresh food, fruit or meat should be disposed of before passport control and customs – or you could get held up over a banana!Eating with your hands
The most obvious types of snacks to bring with you on the plane are fruit, nuts and a sandwich. However, we need to be more conscious about what we are touching and how we could be potentially transmitting germs from our hands to our mouths. So, pack your snacks well in zip lock or sealed plastic and please wash your hands before you snack. Here are 3 options for snacks you can bring with you on the plane that are filling and nutritious and don’t require you to touch the food when eating.
- Granola bar
- Orange and Bananas (and other fruits that you only touch the skin and do not eat it)
- Pre-packaged single serving nuts and seeds
What to pack in your carry on
Health and wellness has become top priority for travelers, airlines and airports. Make sure you add these items to your packing list, so you won’t forget them on your next flight.- Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes
Airports and airplanes can be breeding grounds for germs. Hand sanitizer will be readily available to you throughout the airport, but make sure to pack your own so you have control over when you clean your hands. Keep a travel-sized 100 ml hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content to clean your hands when soap and water are not available. Disinfectant wipes are another handy item to have in your carry on so you can wipe down your seat and surrounding area before you sit down. While is likely that airlines will implement strict sanitation protocols between flights and your seat is perfectly sanitary, for peace of mind it can be good to do it ourselves. - Supplements
A strong and healthy immune system is vital for staying fit and healthy. Add some supplements to your travel routine to help boost your immune system while on the road. Vitamin A, C and D are great for helping to protect your cell walls and strengthen your immune system. Iodine is vital for thyroid health which helps your body’s metabolism and energy creation. Your body needs high and healthy energy levels to fight infection. Hydrochloric acid (your stomach acid) helps kill any pathogens that make it to the stomach. This is especially helpful if you are eating lots of different and unfamiliar foods.
Before your next trip head to your local health food shop and ask for a combined supplement that will work best for your needs and add it to your packing list. - Reusable Water Bottle
Staying hydrated is crucial while traveling, as air travel can lead to dehydration due to the low humidity levels in the cabin. Bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill up after passing through security. Opt for a bottle with a built-in filter if you're concerned about the quality of tap water. Having your water bottle handy will also reduce your reliance on single-use plastic bottles, which is better for the environment.