Stress awareness week has landed (4-8 November 2019), and we are exploring our top five factors we think cause stress at airports.
Stress does seem to make a regular appearance during travel for a variety of reasons. While experts say that a little pressure is OK – chronic stress can be bad for both your mental and physical health.
If you are in a state of high stress already, hassles at the airport are likely to compound it. Vane’s stress awareness week 2019 is about increasing our awareness of triggers that may cause stress and what to do about it.
Five top stress factors that may trigger you at airports
1.No Healthy Food Options
Our health, both mental and physical, depends a lot on our hormone levels. Happily, some foods boost the levels of serotonin – a brain-calming chemical. And other foods reduce the levels of cortisol and adrenaline – the stress hormones. By including both in our diet, we can control our stress quite effectively.
2.Factors We Can’t Control
Missed connections and late-night cancellations can send stress levels through the roof. A long wait around the airport for hours can shift your mood to negative. Also, airport pat-downs maybe something acutely stressful, if your pat-down goes too far.
In large part, airport stress is related to our need to control his or her environment.
RECOMMENDED: Airport Pat Downs: When Do They Go Too Far Or Too Deep?
3.Sleep disruption
Travel can disrupt standard sleeping patterns in different ways. It can leave you feeling constantly tired. Some struggle to fall asleep and wake up in different time zones.
Airports usually don’t have quiet places to rest or sleep. It’s not uncommon to see exhausted travelers sleeping on the floor. I have been one of those people myself!
4. Time Crunch
“Will I make my flight?” seems to be a little voice in my head. Distances to departure gates are not always short. For example, I missed a flight because it took me over 40 minutes to walk and find my gate at JFK airport.
5. Crowds and noise
Loud noise can be stress-provoking, and pushy crowds can leave you with an uneasy feeling.
RECOMMENDED: Silent Airports Are on the Rise: Here’s How They Improve Your Wellbeing
How Vane helps alleviate stress at airports
Our mission is to help travelers’ experience less stress.
How? We provide useful health and wellness information travelers can access. For example, where find healthy foods, read up on our latest spa reviews, or connect with a therapy dog.
We recommend travelers aim to plan and take advantage of airport wellness services to help reduce some travel stress.
