Proactive Steps I’m Taking to Fly Confidently Next Month
Curious about making your next flight less nerve-wracking? I'm sharing exactly what I'm doing a month before my next flight to step on the plane with confidence.
My Ups and Downs with Flight Anxiety
It’s been two years since I’ve flown. Not because of anxiety, just life got in the way of being able to travel. I’m traveling next month, and so far…really looking forward to it.
Since having kids, opportunities to be able to travel by plane have been much fewer.
If you know me, you know I’m vocal about my history with flight anxiety. It was rough years ago, never completely stopping me from flying but making it pretty difficult to want to travel.
During the years I traveled a bunch, it got easier. But then it got worse….. again. Then better.
Years later, I now totally get why my experience was full of ups and downs. For one, it’s normal based on any life stressors.
Mistakes I Made
But mostly, I had no idea that so many of the things I was doing (like pretending I wasn’t on a plane or scanning the flight crew) were actually making my fear worse, rather than better.
It's incredible how you can unknowingly exacerbate your anxiety (and why this is such a crucial part of what I cover in my Fearful Flyer’s Blueprint course).
So even though I don't travel often, I find I am far more confident when I fly….and without self-medicating with cocktails.
Just because I am more confident now, that doesn’t mean I act like my anxiety is gone. I know that it could show up. So I am about a month out from my next flight and want to share with you how I am preparing myself for it.
My Flight Prep
For starters, even though I have many reasons to believe I will have minimal to low anxiety, I’m still remaining open to the possibility that it will show up. This is an attitude shift.
Rather than hoping I don’t have any anxiety, I’m simply just making space for it to be there if it shows up. This helps me to not get into a struggle with any anxiety.
It allows me to treat it matter-of-factly, “oh there you are anxiety, I had a feeling you’d show up.”
I am also seeking opportunities for discomfort right now…. long before my flight. I recently took my kids on a ferris wheel and it triggered some uncomfortable thoughts and sensations.
I was excited to experience that. I know that sounds weird but it’s another attitude shift that’s so important.
By seeking out the discomfort, I said “yes, I GET to practice” and this throw’s anxiety off its game. Riding a ferris wheel is a pretty low level exposure for me, but I will take any practice when I can.
I am not triggered by worries about my upcoming flight (yet), but if I were to become worried, I would be sure to stay away from googling anything to search for answers to my worry questions.
I also plan to catch myself starting to entertain any scary stories, because I know that is within my control.
In a Nutshell
As I approach my upcoming flight, my focus is on simple, effective strategies: expect it, allow it, seek discomfort, and avoid investing in possibilities. And here's a tool to make your next flight smoother – our Free Flight Anxiety Toolkit. Packed with practical tips for in-the-moment ease, it's yours to grab.