Going through terminals can be an exercise in patience. From delayed flights and long layovers, to waiting for your connection, there’s often plenty of downtime to contend with. But instead of succumbing to boredom or frustration during those drab hours, why not turn it into an opportunity for relaxation, productivity or discovery? In this blog, we will look at some ideas to make the most of your time spent waiting in terminals.
Get Lost in a Good Book or Audiobook
Few activities can transport you out of a bustling terminal as quickly as reading. From traditional paperbacks and hardcovers to audiobooks or e-readers, both offer easy ways to immerse yourself in compelling narratives or nonfiction works without adding bulk to your luggage. Airport bookstores offer bestsellers, thrillers and travel-focused reads.
Binge-Watch or Stream Your Favorite Shows
Thanks to streaming services, layovers provide the ideal opportunity to watch all your favorite series or movies backlog. While most terminals provide free Wi-Fi, downloading content prior will make sure that you have uninterrupted entertainment during a layover. Whether revisiting old favorites or discovering new releases, creating a watchlist will make time pass much faster.
Explore the Terminal’s Hidden Gems
Many airports are packed with amenities designed to elevate the traveler experience, from seating areas and overpriced kiosks, to art exhibits, unique gift shops or themed installations scattered across their terminals. Some airports even provide live music performances or aquarium exhibits. A bit of exploration might turn your layover into an enriching cultural journey.
Treat Yourself to a Spa or Wellness Service
Take advantage of your downtime to treat yourself. Many airports offer massage chairs, full-service spas and wellness treatments such as manicures or facials to provide ultimate self-care before embarking on another leg of your journey. You could be boarding that flight feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, which is an amazing way to spend your travels.
Indulge in People-Watching and Observation
Airports offer an endless source of people watching and observing entertainment. Every corner has something worth witnessing. From busy travelers juggling luggage to families embarking on once-in-a-lifetime vacations, every corner offers its own story that you could use as fodder for sociological study or creative inspiration. Grab some coffee, find an observable spot and turn your layover into an opportunity for observation or creative incubation.
Enjoy a Culinary Adventure
Long layovers provide an opportunity to go on a culinary adventure at airport eateries. Many terminals are home to diverse dining options that showcase regional specialties or gourmet offerings. Ditch chain restaurants in favor of something unique to the region, as this will allow you to get an early taste of your destination (or departure point).
Stay Fit with Airport-Friendly Workouts
Staying active can help travelers stay sane during long travel sessions. When looking for ways to break up sitting time, being active is an excellent way to do just that. Look for yoga rooms, walking trails or designated fitness zones. Otherwise brisk walks through the concourse might do the trick. Resistance bands offer quick but effective workout sessions right at your gate.
Catch Up on Work or Personal Projects
Airports offer productivity spaces to those that are looking to get the most out of their time. Packed with charging stations and quiet workspaces, terminals are ideal environments in which to respond to emails, create presentations, or address personal projects. Free Wi-Fi will make sure you are very productive on the go.
Play Games or Solve Puzzles
Sometimes the best way to relax is through some light entertainment. Download games onto your smartphone or tablet, bring along a deck of cards or solve crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Multiplayer games on mobile devices may even help connect you with other travelers in your vicinity, creating opportunities to make new connections while having a good time.
Learn Something New
The time you have while waiting can be used to gain new knowledge or skills, from mastering a foreign language for your upcoming trip with interactive apps, or enrolling in an online course in something that interests you. Many digital learning platforms provide bite-sized lessons suitable for short time spans so that when your layover ends you are at least leaving smarter.
Meditate or Practice Mindfulness
Meditative practices can provide much-needed respite from a hectic airport terminal environment. Try plugging into a guided meditation app or closing your eyes to focus on breathing. Even just five minutes of mindfulness practice can leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready to tackle the rest of your travel itinerary.
Relive Your Travel Memories
Long airport waits provide the ideal opportunity for reflection. Browse photos from previous trips, create an online travel album or journal every momentous experience from your past adventures. Sharing them on social media with travel tips may even spark someone else’s voyages. Remembering past journeys helps bridge the gap between your current journey and the next one.
Take a Relaxing Nap (If Possible)
Sometimes the easiest solution is the most straightforward one. Just grab some neck pillows, eye masks, noise-canceling headphones and relax into a quick power nap with these supplies. If the terminal is particularly crowded look out for designated quiet zones or sleep pods that airports increasingly provide to weary travelers.
Plan and Organize
Use your time at the terminal to organize and plan for your upcoming days, from organizing travel documents and reservations, to mapping out things to do when arriving at your destination. A bit of preplanning goes a long way toward making any journey less hectic. Likewise, this provides an ideal opportunity to clean out devices. Clear your inbox of cluttering emails and files that no longer serve you well, or rearrange digital folders to improve accessibility.
Conclusion
Terminals may often be associated with delays and waiting, but that doesn’t have to mean time wasted. When you take advantage of different ways to fill their layover time, you can make your next wait at the terminal far more memorable and even enjoyable. Relaxation, productivity or discovery, whatever it may be for you, your options for enjoying yourself at the terminal may prove endless and may leave you refreshed for what lies ahead.
