Recently, I asked friends and family their top stresses they face when traveling, and not surprisingly a majority of their frustrations revolve around flying (airport security lines, airport parking, getting the middle seat between two “over-sized” passengers, etc). Arriving at the airport with perfect timing as we prep for takeoff is something we all strive to achieve, but rarely do. There are simply too many factors out of our control that get in the way of mastering this travel segment. We’re either terrified we’ll miss our flight as we sprint towards the gate or dread hanging around the airport for too long, especially before a long trip.

So the only advice I can give in the, “should I arrive too early or roll the dice?” argument is, arrive too early and make the airport your ...... To put it in more PG terms, mentally prepare for the chance of long delays and give yourself too much to do while waiting. Lower those expectations and arrive with some activities! The last thing you want to do is kick off a trip on a bad note complaining about your valuable time. That contradicts the whole wellness travel focus.

THE TOP 10 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR A FLIGHT DELAY

1) Bring Reading Material
Books, magazines, crossword puzzles, etc. You always say you don’t have enough time to read. Hanging around an airport is the perfect time to catch up. I typically bring a variety of options from Sports Illustrated and INC Magazine to both fiction and non-fiction books, because I never know what mood I’m going to be in. Not a big fan of reading? Download an audiobook.

2) Load Up On Podcasts, Movies, & TV Shows
Not a big fan of audiobooks? Download some podcasts. If you’re not familiar with podcasts yet, get on it! Entertaining and educational audio where you can skip past ads? Can’t get better than that. Keeping up with my variety theme, I usually have an array of podcasts downloaded in prep for a big trip, so I have my choice of marketing, nutrition, comedy, sports, TED talks, etc. Suggestion – download them in advance at home so you’re not eating up all your phone data or attempting to use the slow WIFI at the airport.

Often times we need something mindless to pass the time at airports as well. I get that. So it doesn’t hurt to have a few episodes of that TV show you’re behind on or that newly released movie on your laptop. My advice, avoid rated R content. Trying to watch old Californication episodes could get awkward real fast if someone else sees your screen.

3) Walk the Airport
So many of us prepare for a long flight during which we’ll be sitting for hours by…sitting for hours. I’ll never understand that. Airports are naturally long, for obvious reasons, which means they are great tracks. I’m not saying strap on some running shoes and a headband and aim for a 5-minute mile. I’m saying walk - just freaking walk. You’ll be stationary for hours, why not get the blood flowing? If you have 30 minutes before you start boarding, you can easily walk a mile (and no, it doesn’t count if you walk a mile on moving walkways). Some airports even have walking paths, like Phoenix (PHX) and Dallas (DFW). Enjoy the sites as you tour the airport. People watch. Just don’t walk too far away from your gate, and make sure to account for the time it will take to get back to the gate. I don’t want any angry emails for stupidity.

4) Find a Fitness Center or Yoga Room
If walking is too beginner for you, locate a fitness center or yoga room. You’d be surprised at how many airports have one - San Francisco (SFO), Detroit (DTW), and Miami (MIA) to name a few. If you don’t have access to a gym, do some push ups, lunges, or calf raises. You may fear others staring at you, so find an empty gate somewhere.

5) Get a Massage
Relieve some stress with a massage. Some airports feature quite elaborate spas. In New York (JFK) there’s one located in JetBlue’s Terminal. Dubai (DXB) and London (LHR) also have beautiful spas with a large assortment of treatments. Or just hop on one of those 15-minute chair massages.

6) Call a Friend or Loved One
This is another thing we say we don’t have time for, when typically it’s ......... Give that friend a ring to catch up. Call your grandmother to tell her you love her. Share what city you’re in, where you’re heading, and what your trip plans are. There’s nothing like starting a conversation off with, “you’ll never guess which city I have a lay over in”.

7) Strike Up a Conversation With a Stranger
A lot of us try to do the exact opposite of this. We throw on the headphones and put a sign around our neck that reads, “Leave me alone”. But you never know what interesting people you’ll meet when initiating a conversation. They could easily turn into a future friend or client.

Single? Find someone else traveling solo and buy them a drink – without being creepy. Venting about your delayed flight is a great conversation starter, because we all know misery loves company. Heck, maybe one day you’ll be telling your kids a first date story that took place in Terminal 2 of St. Paul International Airport.

8) Get Creative
Speaking of kids, I don’t have any yet, so I can already hear the parents shouting at me, “Easier said than done! Try traveling with kids!”. If you do have kids, and you've already exhausted their time spent eating or watching cartoons on your laptop, try turning the airport into a playground. With time to kill, bring your children from gate to gate, pointing out all the destinations, like you’re going on an around-the-world adventure.

9) Meditate
You don’t need to get on the floor cross-legged to meditate. Simply close your eyes for a few minutes in your chair at the gate to clear your mind. Use apps like Calm.com or Headspace.com for guided meditation. Afraid you’ll fall asleep? Set a timer on your phone to wake you once your allotted meditation time is up. You’ll be surprised at the benefits of just ten minutes of meditation before a big trip.

10) Find Healthy Food
There’s nothing like a challenge to help pass the time, and finding healthy eating options in an airport is quite a challenge! Walk from terminal to terminal, past the McDonalds and Chick-fil-As, to spot out those rare restaurants that are offering fresh, healthy, organic food. Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX), and Baltimore (BWI) are a few examples of airports with options for healthy eating.

That should keep you occupied the next time you find yourself stuck in the airport for hours on end.