Yesterday I traveled from Belize to the U.S. I had never been to the international side at the Dallas airport before and I must say that I was quite impressed with how quickly I passed through passport control. There must have been around five flights or so that they had to clear and it went very smoothly.
Anyhow, I was looking around and noticed a lot of stressed out people. People on their phones, talking about making connections and looking overwhelmed. It made me realize that with all of the international travel we have done I have learned a few things beyond the obvious ones like: , pack light, don't check any bags if you can avoid it, and don't buy tickets with tight connections.
Alida's Stress Relievers:
1. Remember... this too shall pass. Not everything is worth getting upset over. Take a few deep breaths. Close your eyes for a few seconds and rethink the situation.
2. Allow humor to be your traveling companion. Laughter is a great stress reliever.
3. Be open to learning a new way of doing things. Be humble, teachable and flexible.
4. Bring a good book, your favorite music or a few magazines and take some time to mentally escape from whatever drama may be going on around you.
5. Interest yourself in the other travelers. Count the number of languages you hear around you. If you are bored with waiting make up stories about the more interesting characters to entertain yourself with.
I hope that when you take your next trip or your first you will think of these and smile. And to all my fellow travelers...what do you do to relieve stress at the airport?
