4 ways to create your own “airplane mode”

Like many of you, I travel frequently for business and pleasure. There are some months where I find myself in a new location every week! Although traveling is exhausting, I secretly revel in this very rewarding and exciting opportunity.

When I started to think about it, I realized that I do some of my best work in airports and on airplanes. Living your life in “airplane mode” certainly has its benefits. Being in airplane mode allows you to disconnect from the people around you, avoid daily distractions, and take a break from the constant stream of emails. By entering airplane mode, you have a chance to clear your head and truly refocus.

I’m making a habit of going into “airplane mode” more often, whether or not I’m actually on the go. Here are four things you can do to create your own airplane mode:

Silence your electronics. This is a hard one. Turn off your cell phone, silence your work line, and close your email – you will really benefit from doing this! Without these small distractions interrupting your thoughts, you will be able to focus and accomplish your goals for the day. The emails and calls can usually hold off, and you’ll be more productive by structuring your time.

Set a time limit. Think about it – flights only last a certain amount of time. Whether it is 1 hour or 4 hours, set your limit from the beginning. By limiting your time, you won’t risk burning out from concentrating on one task for too long.

Brainstorm. This is your personal quiet time (and we know rare that is). Use it wisely! Brainstorm ideas for that big project, create a strategy for your team, or work on creating content for your company blog. This is valuable time that you have to think without interruption; it’s a great time for planning, strategizing and organizing.

Relax. Turn on your music, watch a movie or read a book or magazine. How often do you actually get to do any of these things? I have found that by closing my eyes and putting on my headphones (invest in noise cancelling, they make all the difference!) I can shut down, lower my blood pressure and relax. I sometimes feel more in touch with myself and more grateful for everything and everyone around me.

I have noticed more and more the presence of WIFI on airplanes I have to say, I am not happy about this. There is a time and place for connectivity and emails and an airplane is just not one of them. I have met some of the greatest people on airplanes and enjoyed their great insights. I’m sure many disagree, but I am willing to wait a little while longer for that technological advancement.

What do you think about airplane mode? Have you tried any of these tips or do you have others to share? We’d love to hear your take on this topic!