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Aircraft taxiing at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York. Photography courtesy of Nicole Lund.
For frequent flyers, it can be difficult to achieve a work-life balance. Many important things like health can be jeopardized. The following areas should be focused on for travelers and pilots to keep various health and work priorities straight when on the road.
A balanced diet
A nutritious diet is important when traveling. Skipped meals and unhealthy food can be rampant among travelers. Frequent flyers can pack healthy meals and snacks, as long as they follow TSA guidelines and have less than 3.4 ounces of liquids or gels when traveling through airports. Pilots can also try to find healthy food options in airports. Many fast-food restaurants in airports have healthier options such as salads or wraps. Prepacked salads and sandwiches can be found at Hudson News, located at many airports.
Exercise
Keeping up with an exercise routine is a great way to achieve a work-life balance, especially while traveling. Taking a 30-minute walk or lifting weights while on the road can help reduce stress and establish some much-needed "you" time while traveling. Long layovers in an airport can be used to get steps in. Utilizing a hotel gym while on a trip can also be beneficial or exploring a new city by foot.
Sleep
Prioritizing sleep while traveling is very important, especially for pilots. Frequent flights or flights through multiple time zones can take a toll on travelers. It may make the most sense to adapt to a new time zone or stay on a similar sleep schedule to your originating time zone for shorter trips. Attempting to get rest on the airplane can help with adapting to a specific time zone. No matter where you are traveling, it is always important to make time for at least eight hours of rest every night. For long connections between flights, some airports offer sleeping pods for travelers to get some rest or Minute Suites. Travelers can also bring along melatonin to help get sleep on noisy airplanes or when not tired.
Hydration
Traveling, especially by air, can be dehydrating. Flying at high altitudes causes the air circulating the cabin to be very dry. The lack of humidity in the air can cause faster onsets of dehydration. When flying, consider skipping soda and requesting water instead. It is also smart to bring an empty water bottle through security that can be filled at a water station in the terminal.
Health necessities can go out the window when traveling. Focusing on diet, exercise, sleep, and hydration can put you on the right path again while traveling. This health balance is a necessity for all travelers and pilots. Keep these tips in mind next time you take to the sky.