Traveling for business can be stressful, with deadlines, time changes, jet lag and layovers. And then there are the inevitable meetings and work on the other side, making it easy to end up with stiff muscles and tension headaches.
Here are some ways you can keep your zen when traveling for business:
Get Some Headspace
While there are many ways to meditate, meditation often has a reputation for being a bit “woo-woo” and many people get frustrated by the fact that they simply “can’t” meditate, and the harder they try, the harder it gets. Learning to create time in your day for some quiet time is a great way to clear your mind, so consider taking 20 minutes to focus on nothing in particular before you even leave home. For those new to meditation, consider trying one of the many apps on the market- Headspace is a great one which teaches you the ins and outs of meditation and has cute videos which teach you about clearing your mind.
Practice Yoga
Not only is yoga great for health and fitness and keeping you limber (especially when you’re going to be stuck in a tiny airplane seat for multiple hours), but it’s a great way to organise your thoughts and relax. Many airports are beginning to recognise the need for places where passengers can strike a pose (a yoga pose, that is) and have dedicated specific yoga spaces.
Check out Burlington International Airport which has a well-equipped yoga studio no the second floor with meditation cushions, mats and shower facilities. In Terminal 3 at Chicago O’Hare airport you’ll find a bamboo-floored yoga room with video monitors playing yoga that you can choose to follow. Midway, Chicago’s other airport also has a yoga room, as does Dallas-Fort Worth, Helsinki, Heathrow, and San Francisco.
Find a Quiet Place
If you’d like to take some time to enjoy a good book, meditate, or simply relax without hearing constant boarding calls, children crying and teenagers whining, you’d be surprised how many airports have quiet spaces. Most airports will have multifaith chapels which ban laptops and cellphones and silence flight announcements, making them an ideal place to gather your thoughts, regardless of whether you’re religious.
For those who are members of airport lounges, many of them now have “relaxation zones” for those who want to nap, relax, read or catch up on some work. If you’re not a member you can also check out deal sites like Living Social and Groupon which sometimes have discounted passes available.
Take Headphones
Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you may not be able to find a quiet place to rest or relax while you’re traveling. That’s why noise-cancelling headphones are such a great investment. Simply popping these on, combined with a good sleep mask can transport you to your own little bubble while you enjoy an audiobook, relaxing music or white noise.
