By Mike Rollins, Olofly
Summary:
A stress expert shares practical advice to help travelers reduce airport anxiety, stay calm during flights, and view the journey as the beginning of a relaxing vacation.
With summer in full swing, Floridians will be packing and getting ready to jet off on their summer vacation. However, as much as everyone enjoys a vacation, it can be a stressful process in getting there, which is the part travelers dread most.
Mike Rollins, a stress expert at Olofly, has provided a step-by-step travel guide to help those who get overwhelmed by the traveling process.
Prep before you travel
If you’re a nervous flyer, the best way to put your mind at ease is to consider the journey as the start of the vacation itself. Create some small travel traditions to get you excited, but also stay distracted and not overthink the situation. Make yourself a vacation playlist or put on your favorite tunes to keep your mind at ease, take a new book you’ve been wanting to read, or even download your favorite show or movie before the flight to create a sense of familiarity in a different environment.
Having some home comforts or parts of your normal day-to-day routine can help shift your attention away from the anxiety of flying and towards the excitement of your destination.
Another essential prep is checking all the essential documents in advance. Make sure your passport is not due to expire within six months of your travel dates, that you have the correct and valid travel insurance, your bags are not overweight, and triple-check your flight times to ensure you are at the airport at least two hours before your flight to allow for potential delays you could encounter.
Arriving at the airport
The airport can often be the most stressful part of the travel experience, especially when it comes to security and timing. To reduce the stress of getting your bag pulled for a search or setting off the metal detectors, ensure all products, appliances, or clothing items such as belts and jackets are removed before entering the security queue so you can pop your items straight into the trays and go through.
It’s important to note that many airports have different policies regarding what needs to be removed and what can stay in your bags. Many airports in recent years have allowed you to keep electrical appliances and liquids in your bag and put it through the scanners as it is. Make sure to read up on the requirements of the specific airport you are departing from in advance, as this will help reduce stress on the day.
The waiting around once through security is also a major trigger for anxiety. Constantly checking the screens to see if your gate is open, has changed, is delayed, etc., can be nerve-racking, and therefore, it's important to remain vigilant about potential changes and delays, but also find a way to distract yourself. Treat yourself to a coffee or meal, browse the bookshops, walk around the terminal, or sit by the windows and watch aircraft take off and land. Some people find it reassuring to observe the normal rhythm of airport operations, while others enjoy people-watching or making a list of everything they are looking forward to once they arrive. By focusing on the vacation ahead, the airport becomes part of the experience rather than simply a place to wait.
During the flight
Creating a sense of comfort and routine on board can make flying feel less overwhelming. Staying occupied is the main way to keep your mind busy and focus less on the fact that you are 30,000 feet in the air.
During the flight, travelers can use the time as a rare opportunity to disconnect from everyday life and embrace the slower pace of being in the air. Whether it's cloud spotting from the window, watching a favorite film, journaling, or simply appreciating a few hours free from work and responsibilities, the flight can become a chance to unwind rather than something to fear.
Nervous flyers may also find comfort in reminding themselves that turbulence and unfamiliar noises are a routine part of flying, helping to reframe the experience as a normal and safe part of the journey.
It can also be helpful to remember that many sensations experienced during a flight are completely normal.
Turbulence, although uncomfortable, is not dangerous, and some people find it useful to think of it as similar to driving over bumps in the road.
The cabin crew are a key source of reassurance to travelers when struggling with flight anxiety. If they aren’t worried, you shouldn’t be either, as they encounter such issues daily and know what to do in the rare case of an emergency.
If you are particularly anxious, especially if you are solo traveling, it may be worth telling a member of the crew that you are a nervous flyer so they can provide additional support and reassurance throughout the journey.
Making the journey part of the vacation
Ultimately, you are going on vacation to relax and enjoy yourself, so getting over the obstacle of the process of getting there is key to relaxation. If you consider the journey as part of the vacation, it can create a feeling of excitement as opposed to stress.
This could include setting a simple “travel theme” for the day. You could focus on refining your itinerary for the vacation, including activities, restaurants or day trips you plan on doing when you are there. This should help divert your attention away from the traveling process and heighten all the things to look forward to once you arrive.
By seeing the journey as a transition into vacation mode rather than time to get through, even the in-between moments can feel calmer, more intentional, and part of the overall experience.
Mike Rollins, stress expert and COO at Olofly, further commented:
“For many Floridians, travel stress often starts well before they reach the airport. Whether it’s worrying about traffic on the way to MCO, navigating busy terminals like Miami or Fort Lauderdale, or thinking about long security lines during peak travel periods, it's usually the anticipation that creates the most anxiety rather than the journey itself. People tend to imagine worst-case scenarios, making the experience feel much more overwhelming than it typically is.
“Once you're at the airport or on the plane, the focus should be less on ‘coping’ and more on keeping your mind engaged. Listening to music or a podcast, reading, watching a film, or simply following the usual travel routine can help prevent anxious thoughts from taking over. It also helps to remember that things like security checks, flight delays, and even turbulence are all common parts of air travel, especially at major Florida airports, and are handled every day.
“One of the biggest changes comes from shifting your mindset. Instead of seeing the journey as something to get through, try viewing it as the first part of your vacation or trip. Whether you're flying to Hawaii, New York, Europe, or just taking a weekend break elsewhere in Florida, focusing on what's waiting at your destination rather than what could go wrong can make the entire experience feel calmer and more enjoyable.
Key Points
- Prepare ahead by organizing travel documents and planning ways to stay entertained.
- Reduce airport stress by knowing security procedures and arriving early.
- Stay occupied during the flight and reframe turbulence as a normal part of flying.
- Shift your mindset by treating the journey as part of your vacation.
