The first couple of years of this job can be brutal as you deal with germs, stress, a fluctuating sleep schedule and a diet consisting of airplane food. It’s easy to forget to take care of yourself, even senior FAs struggle with this. “Putting on your oxygen mask first” helps you enjoy the job more, be better at it and get the most out of your time off. These are some of the things that I have found really make a difference in my health and happiness.
Unplug
Take a break from social media for an hour, a day or longer. Most of us use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram to keep up on company news, gossip, trip trading and friends’ travels but with the good comes the bad. Online bickering and travel-envy can ruin a good day. Take a step back every once and a while.
Stop Reading the Comments
Every airline has customers who take every opportunity to bash them, particularly online. Don’t let those trolls’ special brand of vile affect you. You can’t control what they say but you can control what you hear. When I come across these comments, I try to remember that they aren’t about me personally.
Sleep When and Where You Can
Our sleep schedules don’t always match up with the rest of the world. Sometimes it isn’t worth pushing through exhaustion to accomplish all your errands, meet up with friends or catch that flight to Thailand. It’s ok to forgo plans to get some sleep. I always carry ear plugs and an eye mask so I can catch a nap when the opportunity arises.
Take a Multivitamin
Managing a healthy diet while flying can be tricky. I help my body get the nutrients it needs with a daily multivitamin. I keep mine in my toiletry kit, next to my toothbrush, so I remember to take it first thing in the morning.
Put Down the Airplane Food
Oh, it is so tempting but pigging out on the greasy, salt-laden snack is a bad idea. It may taste good in the moment but your bloated, drowsy self will regret it later. Trust me on this. Grab a fresh salad during your ground time or bring healthy snacks with you. I pack lean protein, like chicken, and some vegetables to heat up on the plane.
Drink Up
If you have flown for more than a day, you have probably met a senior mama who extolled the virtues of proper hydration. Listen to that mama! Water is essential for health blah, blah, blah. You know this. When you are exhausted and reaching for another soda or cup of coffee, try some water instead. That drowsy feeling may very well be caused by dehydration. I use chia seeds and fresh fruit to make boring old water a little more interesting.
Simplify
Set up autopay for your bills. Create a duplicate toiletry kit that lives in your suitcase. Have “standard layover clothes”. Order groceries online and have them delivered. I am so grateful for the time and energy savers when life gets hectic.
Know What You Can Change & Accept What You Can’t
At some point you are going to have to deal with an asinine company policy or unpleasant coworker. When I encounter either, I first step back and try to understand. What is it that the policy makers are trying to accomplish? Why might my coworker be in such a bad mood? If there is an opportunity to change the situation in a calm and professional way, I’ll try that. I provide feedback on the procedure or approach my coworker. Sometimes though, it is out of my control. Rather than dwell and let it bother me, I move on. I remind myself that I love the fact that I am not paid to worry about finding the best policies, I am paid to execute them as best I can. If it doesn’t work, isn’t my failure. One of my other favorite things is being able to walk off the plane and away from difficult coworkers knowing I may not ever fly with them again.
