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With Flight Anxiety On the Rise, Here’s How Our Plane-Shy Editors Combat Nerves While Flying
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It’s a truth universally acknowledge that those of us who love to travel, will eventually have to fly. But if the idea of going up in the air in a giant metal tube right now gives you the jitters before the plane even leaves the tarmac, you’re not alone — it’s estimated that up to 40% of Americans get nervous about flying, and probably even more have been expressing their anxiety online after a recent spate of publicized crashes over the past couple of months.
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“Flying is the safest mode of transportation that we have out there in spite of these recent accidents,” Anthony Brickhouse, a U.S. aviation expert, recently told Rolling Stone. “I frequently tell people once you make it to the airport and leave your car, the most dangerous part of your trip, statistically speaking, is behind you.” Brickhouse also noted that the best way to fly safely is to make sure you’re a safe passenger for yourself and others, like identifying where the emergency exits are near you, and always listening to your flight attendants.
There’s a mountain of books, articles, and even breathing techniques about how to overcome this common fear, but it’s easier said than done to just “get over it”. But the best essentials for flight anxiety either help sooth your overall tension, or help you block out all the stressors that might compound over the course of the flight (like screaming babies, or turbulence). But coming from an anxious-yet-frequent flier, prepping an anti-plane anxiety toolkit in advance with the right items will get you through the nightmare at 20,000 feet, and it’s just as important as what you pack in your suitcase. You might even find something new that’ll help you out through other stressful day-to-day situations on the ground.
Best Travel Essentials for Flight Anxiety
If you’re looking to help out the nervous flier in your life with a gift to ease their worries, or are a jittery jet-setter yourself just trying to make it through boarding time without losing it (no judgement), then here are the 11 best gadgets and gear our editors have personally used to make travel a breeze, from earplugs, to “NodPods“.
BEST NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
$328.00 $399.99 18% off
$329.99 $399.99 18% off
If it’s the noises that really raise your blood pressure during flights, from miscellaneous mechanical creaks to baby’s crying, noise-canceling headphones are about as important to pack as your passport. I love my Sony WH-1000XM5s, I use them on every trip to keep my travel playlist going from take-off (the most stressful time for me) to up to 30 hours in an immersive bubble of quiet. Complete with their cozy fit and carrying case, the WH-1000XM5s should be on every anxious-flier’s packing list.
Bearaby Travel Napper
$209
“Something that helps my anxiety is by turning the plane’s air nozzle on high and putting it directly on me,” says Commerce Writer Alexis Mikulski. “But that also makes me cold, so I always have a blanket with me.” Weighted blankets can also help ground you when you feel anxious, but they’re not exactly the most portable. Bearaby’s Travel Napper is the closest we’ve ever come to experiencing a warm hug in a blanket, weighing 10 lbs and coming with its own duffle.
Perilogics Universal in Flight Airplane Phone Holder Mount
$13.97
$13.99
As someone who only recently became able to do actually work on a laptop on a plane, I found focusing on an in-flight movie one of the best ways to help my anxiety. But what happens when you go to sit down and—oh no, no screen! “Something that makes my flight anxiety even worse is when they don’t have TVs — so I always bring this portable mount so I can watch pre-downloaded videos on my phone and not hold it the whole time,” says Mikulski. It’s got dual joints with 360-degree rotation, so you always get the best view, no matter the angle.
Lemme Sleep Sleep Tight Gummies
$29.99
$30.00
While there’s no magic pill that you can take to ease all your flying jitters, consider these berry-flavored sleep gummies from Kourtney Kardashian’s wellness brand Lemme as your ticket to helping you get through even the longest legs of your journey. “I have tried more melatonin products that I can count, and these are the only ones that will help me fall asleep,” says Mikulski. Another favorite of our editors if you’re trying to stay awake through the flight? Dad Grass’ low-dose Deluxe THC + CBD gummies has helped keep me majorly chill through even the shakiest flights (although be sure to take this before you get to the airport given the mild amount of THC).
PopFlex Zip Cloud Hoodie
$70.00
Having a dedicated, planned-out “plane outfit” makes sure you have one less thing to worry about from takeoff until touchdown. I don’t like anything tight or constricting that could make my claustrophobia worse, which is why I’m dedicated to throwing on a breezy jumpsuit or Blogilates Active Dress and PopFlex’s Zip Cloud Hoodie for nearly every flight. Wearing it feels like being swaddled by a marshmallow, and I feel like I can tackle any anxiety-spiking moments on the plane, from tiny-cup-of-Diet-Coke spills to excessive sweating. Other members of our team are also fans of traveling with this simple Popover hoodie from Abercrombie, which has an oversized fit and comes in so many designs.
Nodpod Gentle Pressure Sleep Mask
$34.00
$34.00
Most sleep masks are flimsy and won’t help block out the harsh industrial airplane lights — but what if your sleep mask could pull double duty and help you get a more relaxing nap on a normally stressful flight? Like a calming hug for your head, I love the weighted texture of this NodPod sleep mask because it gives me that same micro-bead texture you’d get in a really good weighted blanket. It’ll help you get some much needed shut-eye with no pinching elastic band thanks to a unique pull-through design, which works especially well when I’m trying to sleep upright (I’ve even used it as a weighted neck wrap, too). Soft, flexible, and with a hint of pressure, this NodPod will replace your old flimsy sleep mask even off the plane.
The Cocktail Box Co. Cocktail Kit
$23.99
$22.00
While we don’t necessarily recommend hitting the drink cart as your first move if you’ve got flight anxiety, if you have to turn to the bottle, this compact cocktail kit helps you do it in style. Each pocket-sized tin comes with everything you’ll need to become an amateur mixologist in the sky — just add booze. You’ll get enough pre-portioned syrups, bitters, aromatics, garnishes, and more for 3-6 drinks, and good news, they’re TSA-friendly.
Béis The Expandable Backpack
$73.50 $90.00 18% off
Mikulski says that having an organized personal bag helps her relieve anxiety, “because I know exactly where everything is when I need it, and fast.” Celeb-loved travel brand Béis happens to have the one backpack that seems like it can do it all, and then more. The Expandable Backpack is complete with every pocket you need (including room for a witty pill case for your anti-anxiety meds), a laptop sleeve, key leash, a water bottle pocket that can be tucked into the inside and zipped away. And if you’re also an anxious over-packer, then the bag can be zipped open to nearly double in size.
Calm Meditation App
$14.99/month
There’s thousands of mediation apps out there, but Calm is the one I’ve regularly turned to time and time again. Like an anti-anxiety multi-tool, you get the best of all worlds, from guided meditations of course, to soundscapes (think nature sounds or ambient noise), breathing exercises, music, spoken word, story-telling, and more. I get relief that targets multiple senses, all in a compact app I can whip out before I even reach cruising altitude. Heads up: with their 7-day free trial, you’ll still have access to all the programs you tried once your trial is up, you can only unlock the rest with a subscription.
Sunday Scaries CBD Oil Tincture
$49
For total relaxation, sometimes dramamine and pressure point wrist bands just won’t cut it when it comes to banishing away flight anxiety completely. Fans of CBD will enjoy Sunday Scaries’ CBD Oil, which is light, refined, and is designed to be absorbed quickly but not slow you down when you’re on the go. But wait — you might be asking — can you even take CBD on a plane? The answer is yes: you’re legally allowed to bring CBD products made from hemp which contain no more than 0.3% THC on your next flight. Sunday Scaries CBD Oil contains zero THC, so it’s given us that ‘aaaaah’ feeling without the traditional “high” of THC (or the “hemp-forward” aftertaste). Each bottle contains 500 MG of broad spectrum CBD, plus the added benefits of vitamins B12 and D3. Squeeze ? of a dropper under your tongue before your flight if you have a hard time with takeoff.
Loop Quiet 2 Plus Earplugs
$34.95
$34.95
We’ve sung the praises of Loop before for their front-row concert-friendly earplugs, but their Quiet Earplugs with 27 decibels of noise-cancellation are great to pop in whenever you need to surround yourself in a near-silent, onboard bubble. Made from lightweight, flexible silicone, believe me when I say you will never go back to those old foam earplugs ever again — this is long-haul flight-worthy comfort in a pint-sized package. They’re reusable, won’t stick out of your ear, and come in a variety of stylish colors. These won’t connect to audio like your phone or the seat-back TV, but if you need a moment to breathe in peace and quiet, they’re a must-have.
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