Best Ways to Pass Time in the Airport
Make a Delay Your Blessing in Disguise…
The airport is a versatile place. The idea of waiting for a flight can cause impatience, but there are many ways to occupy the time. Over my course of life, I have spent ample time in an airport...probably more than I would want considering the many delays that have set back some of my trips. I feel that most days we never have enough time to relax our minds or end up making sacrifices to do so. At the end of the day, airport time whether it is the initial flight, layover or delay provides an unwanted, but much needed time slot to relax the mind and get caught up on the list that you have been pushing off. Here are some of my recs to you.
Catch Up With Friends and Family
As someone who views themselves to be extremely independent, friends and family are something I value tremendously. Unfortunately, sometimes the most important things can fall further down your list of things to do. As you are passing time, get caught up with people! This doesn’t have to be people you talk to often... the most fun people to catch up with are the ones you are almost too busy for. A simple conversation that feels like 5 minutes will easily turn out to be much longer than you expect.
Research the Place You Are headed to
If you feel like you didn’t plan enough for the current journey you are on, use this time to do so. “A blessing in disguise”. If you think about it deeper this could have been wasted time during your trip compared to taking the given time now. See my most recent article here for tips and tricks to help you plan your trip. If you are done with the planning process... learn the history and culture. Again, this all depends on where you are traveling to, but it is always good to have some background knowledge of where you are going. This will allow for a better experience, understanding, and tourist etiquette.
If you need help planning your trip… see previous blog post here
Snooze
This is as self-explanatory as it sounds... take a fat nap. One of the things I love most about airports is that there is no shame. People are traveling for different purposes, yet we are all stuck in the same place. The airport seating area doubles as a bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc. Make use of it and catch up on some sleep. For the most part, I don’t think anyone will come tap on your shoulder to wake you up. Just make sure you set an alarm every so often, so you don’t miss your flight and get stuck a little longer!
Clean Out Your Phone
This rec would be the thing that is always on your list of things to do, but you just never want to sit down and waste precious time doing it...decluttering your phone. I can only imagine the number of aimless photos and pointless screenshots that are consuming space and storage in the everyday phone. This will seem to be extremely satisfying but will also allow you to look back at so many memories while doing so. If this is something that you really want, but don’t have the attention span to do, I recommend the Slidebox app. This is a fairly new app that was created for the specific purpose of decluttering. There is still some maintenance from the backend of it, but the concept is super fun. You are simply able to swipe left and right depending on if you want to keep or delete the photo from your library.
Let Your Mind Wander
Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is sit in silence and reset. Our minds are constantly running, especially if you have airport anxiety. Take a deep breath and sit in silence. If this is something that is difficult for you to do, use headphones and look up a meditation or breathing video to follow. To some this might be silly, but don’t knock it until you try it. This will 110% help you breakaway from the current and everyday stressors that life has to offer. Most of the time life is too crazy for us to mentally check in on ourselves.
I’m a Southwest girl if you couldn’t tell…
People Watch
If people watching sites were cities, the mall would be Los Angeles, the park would be New York, but the airport would be Washington DC. Basically, the airport is the capital of people watching. To me, airports are a happy place, a place that means new adventures. For others it may just be a stop along their journey. What intrigues me the most is that so many different travelers are forced together in one place, all with their own unique stories. Amidst the chaos that an airport can sometimes entail, people watching can be a rewarding pastime.
Listen to a Podcast or Read a Book
I’ll be honest and say that I didn’t get into podcasts or reading until about a year ago. Since reading more, I have realized the difference it makes to take time away from a visual and allow your mind to think and draw out a conclusion of its own. A good page turner can easily occupy your time. I currently use the app Goodreads where I can record the books i've read, currently am reading, and want to read. This app is also great to connect with friends and see their recommendations along with opinions on different books. Like books, podcasts have many different genres. I have listed some of my favorite pastime podcasts to listen to below.
Self Improvement: For You From Eve
Self Improvement: Moments Podcast
Personal Journals: Anything Goes With Emma Chamberlain
Personal Journals: Was That TMI? With Sadie Crowell
Places & Travel: Travel That Matters
History: Field Trip
True Crime: National Park After Dark
True Crime: Dateline
Comedy: The Really Good Podcast
Grab a Snack or Drink
The only thing worse than being stuck with a delayed flight, is being hangry and stuck with a delayed flight. We all know that airport food can be expensive, but in cases like this it can be worth it. Depending on the airport, there are normally some chain restaurants that tend to hold constant if not similar prices to those outside. If you are looking to reduce costs by a lot OR have planned for a layover in advance... PYOS. Pack your own snacks! Many people don’t realize that you can bring them through security in your carry on. Just make sure to check with the local TSA guidelines about what you can and cannot pack.
Talk to a Stranger
I had to save the best for last obviously! If you find yourself to have a high social battery, I promise you there will be someone similar around the corner. As you are waiting in the airport to board your flight, so are others that you can talk to and bond with. The idea of talking to a stranger may seem a little out of the normal for some, but it is also so rewarding. The number of trips where my friends and I have ended up finding a mutual connection with others while traveling is shocking. The world is much smaller than we think it is! Even if there is absolutely no hope for a mutual connection, the takeaways of different perspectives that you can grasp always seems to satisfy.
