How to Stay Calm in a Stressful Airport

I am not a patient person. I am quick to annoyance, and not usually very far off from anger. It’s a flaw I have tried to work on over the years and, in some ways, been able to control. Traveling is stressful and the logistics can be annoying. Here are my tips for keeping calm, even in the midst an an incredibly irritating situation.

Don’t complain about what cannot be changed

Airport security is unorganized. The 3 ounces rule barely makes sense, considering how it is enforced. There is always someone who doesn’t understand the 1 personal item, 1 carry-on rule. These things are annoying, but they aren’t going to change. Some parts of travel are just the way they are and there is nothing you can do do change them. Take off your shoes in security. Contain your eye rolls when people forget to put their liquids in a 3oz bottle. Take a deep breath when you see someone shoving 4 items into the overhead bin. Let it go. Bitching about the inevitable frustrations you will encounter while traveling rarely does your stress level any good.

Make note of legitimate complaints later

Now, if you find something that actually warrants a complaint, don’t ignore it. Recently, I was on the worst American Airlines flight I have ever experienced. My boyfriend and I were pulled aside after we were heard speaking Spanish, and our carry-on bags were taken from us. A flight attendant yelled at a 9 year old girl who got up to go to the bathroom before the plane was even in motion. That same flight attendant put her finger in my boyfriend’s face and yelled “don’t you get smart with me! I’m tired and I don’t want to hear it!” when all he did was ask how long the delay would be. That wasn’t all, but the point is, a complaint was warranted. However, complaining to the same flight attendant who was obviously not concerned about my happiness wasn’t going to do any good. Instead, I calmly wrote down every detail, including her name, and saved it for later. The next day I was able to tweet at American Airlines continuously until I got a response, then write a long letter to the airline as well. I kept my cool in the moment, and was able to file a formal complaint later. It is much less stressful to file a complaint after you’ve had some time to gather your thoughts than it is to launch an attack right there on the spot.

Find a routine that makes you happy

Maybe you always allow yourself that overpriced Starbucks beverage. Perhaps you zone out while you blast music on your headphones. You might even purchase a trashy magazine and indulge in celebrity gossip and beauty tips you don’t need and will never use. Whatever it is that comforts you, just go with it. I usually buy an ice cream or smoothie and then hide behind a book or some music. When I’m focused on my novel and some tasty (albeit overpriced) ice cream, I don’t seem to care about the obnoxious travelers around me or extra security screenings. Once, during a particularly long and irritating layover, I paid to get a pedicure in one of those crazy airport spas. Yeah, that happened, and I have no regrets.

I still complain about pointless things in my head, and roll my eyes at people who cause unnecessary hold ups in security or boarding – but I don’t let it mess with my head. I focus on my own business and my upcoming destination, and it works out so much better.

What do you do to relax while you travel through a stressful airport?