Long haul flights can be challenging. But what if we used them as an opportunity for self improvement? Read on to find out how!
Journal
One of the best ways to improve yourself on your next long-haul flight is to take some time to journal. Journaling it's all about writing down your thoughts and experiences which can have a wide range of benefits.
First of all by writing about your thoughts and experiences you helped to lessen your own mental load. What this means is instead of having them whirling round and around your mind they are there on paper and you have processed them properly.
Additionally by writing about the thoughts and experiences especially as you travel you gain time and distance to reflect on these. Perhaps there are things you would do differently if you were to go on a similar trip again, all things you didn't quite fully grasp at the time which you do when reading your notes back.
Lastly, journaling is a wonderful way to identify patterns and thoughts and behaviour. By taking some time on your long-hold flight to journal your experiences, and even review past ones you can better gain insight into the things that are most important to you in life.
First of all by writing about your thoughts and experiences you helped to lessen your own mental load. What this means is instead of having them whirling round and around your mind they are there on paper and you have processed them properly.
Additionally by writing about the thoughts and experiences especially as you travel you gain time and distance to reflect on these. Perhaps there are things you would do differently if you were to go on a similar trip again, all things you didn't quite fully grasp at the time which you do when reading your notes back.
Lastly, journaling is a wonderful way to identify patterns and thoughts and behaviour. By taking some time on your long-hold flight to journal your experiences, and even review past ones you can better gain insight into the things that are most important to you in life.
Read
Another great self-improvement activity to do on your next long haul flight is to read. One of the best things about reading is that there are so many different choices to consider. First of all you'll need to think about whether you want to read a real life paper book, or listen to an audiobook user read by a narrator, the author, and sometimes in the case of a good novel dramatised by a full cast.
That brings us on to the next decision to make when it comes to Reading, what type of book to pick up. Now you may think the obvious choice is a self-improvement book like Mel Robbins' "Let Them", "Atomic Habits" by James Clear or "The Artist's" Way by Julia Cameron. After all, isn't that exactly what we are trying to do here? However self-improvement books are not the only type of literature that can help us progress in our life. Indeed, a good novel can be life changing, with many people crediting stories like "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez, "The Lord of the Rings" by J. R. R. Tolkien, or "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
That brings us on to the next decision to make when it comes to Reading, what type of book to pick up. Now you may think the obvious choice is a self-improvement book like Mel Robbins' "Let Them", "Atomic Habits" by James Clear or "The Artist's" Way by Julia Cameron. After all, isn't that exactly what we are trying to do here? However self-improvement books are not the only type of literature that can help us progress in our life. Indeed, a good novel can be life changing, with many people crediting stories like "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel García Márquez, "The Lord of the Rings" by J. R. R. Tolkien, or "The Brothers Karamazov" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.
Draw
So many people think that drawing is a skill that they either have or they don’t. Sadly, often the ones that think they don’t have it refuse to draw and so miss out on all the wonderful benefits of this activity including increased concentration, better sleep, improved memory and even boosted communication.
With that in mind, giving yourself permission to draw, even if it's bad, is a great way to spend your next long haul flight and improve yourself at the same time. One resource that can help a lot with giving yourself the permission to draw is the book The Creative License by Danny Gregory. It's all about documenting your everyday life and travels as a form of presence and mindfulness, as well as realising you don't need permission from anyone but yourself to draw!
With that in mind, giving yourself permission to draw, even if it's bad, is a great way to spend your next long haul flight and improve yourself at the same time. One resource that can help a lot with giving yourself the permission to draw is the book The Creative License by Danny Gregory. It's all about documenting your everyday life and travels as a form of presence and mindfulness, as well as realising you don't need permission from anyone but yourself to draw!
Game
We often think of gaming as a frivolous activity and while it can absolutely be a lot of fun, it can also be great for self-improvement as well. This is because some types of games such as solitaire help us to hone or cognitive function. The reason for this is that they require the use of specific skills such as pattern recognition, logic AND problem solving. By practising these skills regularly by playing these types of games we can strengthen those pathways in the brain and improve these types of cognitive function.
Meditate
While you may not want to meditate for the entire journey of your long haul flight, unless you are a committed Buddhist or Yogi, taking at least some time to quiet your mind, and check in with your body can be a great form of self improvement.
Some people can find it helpful to follow along with a recorded meditation especially when they are in a public place like a flight. This is because it gives them a definite focus which they can return to if they get distracted.
Some people can find it helpful to follow along with a recorded meditation especially when they are in a public place like a flight. This is because it gives them a definite focus which they can return to if they get distracted.
More advanced practitioners may like to meditate ‘freestyle’, that is without a recording. Yes, it may be more challenging in that there are likely to be more distractions, but as experienced meditators will know the ultimate aim is to be able to maintain a gentle focus on what you choose, despite any noise or chaos going on around you! (Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash)
