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How To Reduce Travel Related Stress
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The How-To Business Book
11/20/2000
By: Mitchell Young
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Airplane rage has replaced road rage as the story de jour about rude America. Sociologists are on the trail of likely causes, and whether it's a breakdown of civility or a physical reaction to the overstuffing of airplanes, we don't know. We will place one bet, however: that rising stress and impatience in general is part of the problem.
Regardless of the source, the stress of travel appears to have accelerated faster than the time it takes to book an e-ticket. While it's far easier to talk about stress management than to actually do it, stress will succumb to simple steps to control it. And travel related stress can be managed with preparation.
The solution - and many seasoned travelers may not want to hear it - is you and not them. Not the airlines, the drivers, the baggage handlers, the hotel clerks, the telephone operators, not even your fellow rude passengers.
The reason is simple: You can't control any of them, but you have complete control of your reactions to people and problems - and that's how you control stress.
Going with the flow may sound like too much 1960s talk for you, but by keeping your blood pressure down, you drive your own performance up. After all, the purpose of the travel is to enjoy - or sell or educate - and letting events take you off your game will assure failure.
One reason why travel stress is so great is that there are so many things that can go wrong. And, to cap it off, travel deadlines just makes the tension grow.
The secret of getting ahead of this is an “attitude adjustment.” But even planning, which will help reduce stress, won't get the job done completely. Indeed, planning can be a double-edge sword when it comes to stress-management.
Knowing where we're going, how to get there, a definitive schedule - all function to reduce stress and are a prerequisite of carefree travel. Things go wrong, however, and many business travelers operate with too tight and inflexible an itinerary.
One way to reduce stress is to put an emblem on your trip. “Visualize” (as the television gurus say) that things are under control, and are well planned. Avoid rushing, battling traffic, dashing through the airport. Don't trick yourself that you can't “afford” the time to assure a slower pace, that time will yield success on your trip.
Travel is expensive, and that forces many travelers to squeeze too much in, or to count on a level of quality-control from airlines and others that they believe they pursue in their own business dealings.
How many times have you heard a fellow traveler say, “ If I ran my business this way, I'd be out of business”?
That may be true, and it's guaranteed to get your blood pressure up - but it's usually pretty unfair in the end. Let's face it: Few of us are fielding a fleet of 737s flying into 50 cities across the country with thousands of customers - many expecting to make connections often just minutes apart.
Tactic 1: Leave some wiggle room in your schedule.
Tactic 2: The little things matter.
Incomplete plans are also a source of great stress, - even something as simple as not having good directions to your meeting, or having an umbrella will put you in the wrong frame of mind.
Web sites such as www.mapquest.com and www.weather.com will provide you with point-to-point directions to any location in the U.S. as well as accurate and timely weather data for virtually any destination.
Carry-on luggage is the source of unbelievable stress on airlines; no one likes hanging around the baggage turnstile, but unless your traveling in a Third World country you shouldn't expect to put your goat in the overhead compartment.
Tactic 3: Maintain your exercise patterns and sleep patterns
If working out at home keeps your stress levels in check, then choose a hotel that has a health club and schedule the time for it. Try not to blow up your sleep patterns when you travel. “I'll sleep on the plane” may help you get through that part of the trip, but altering and reducing your sleep pattern will increase your travel stress.
Tactic 5: Get your trip off on the right foot.
Which airport you travel from and to and how you transport yourself there really does matter in reducing stress and in how you view your trip. Driving from New Haven to New York by definition creates stress, but even a trip to Bradley can start your trip off on the wrong foot - parking hassles, lugging your bags, running through the airport to catch the flight. Why start your trip that way? Consider a scheduled limousine service, get help with the bags, close your eyes, organize your trip and place yourself in the right frame of mind.
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