“The world only exists in your eyes – your conception of it.
You can make it as big or as small as you want to.”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Later this week I will be departing on a 15 hour journey by plane which will take me to Maui for a women’s retreat. I am no stranger to long trips and the challenges they bring to physical stamina, but I prepare for this week’s trip grateful for what I have learned about energy health and a few resources I can apply to balance and maintain my vitality before, during and after my journey. You already know the obvious stuff – pack, make lists and leave your office ready to get by without you. Energy preparation is what’s missing. Allow me to share my own tips with you, as they may be helpful for your next trip too.
Preparing for Departure
The week before a trip is the ideal time to build an energy reserve to help you be more resilient for the stresses you are likely to encounter during travel. This is a physical, emotional and spiritual process. The intentional goal is to be stronger than usual when you hop on the plane. I do the following as part of my week of preparation.
1. Get a little more sleep than usual by going to bed early those days before the trip
2. Eat frequent, light meals that at heavy on fresh fruits and vegetables. I plan an Isagenix cleanse day during that week too. For more information check out www.bbmuller.isagenix.com
3. Exercise a little longer and more than usual
4. Drink plenty of filtered water or non-caffeinated herbal tea throughout the day
5. Keep a check on stress. Don’t over-book yourself. Avoid situations and people that throw you off balance. When in doubt, say NO.
6. Assemble a survival kit for your carry-on including a wonderful book(s) you can’t wait to read, a journal, protein bars, dried fruit or nuts, some dark chocolate, your favorite essential oil, any medications you may need and an Ipod loaded with songs or audios you love. All of these things will make life much more bearable in the event that you encounter a delay. If you don’t have a delay, you’ll still have some great treats to occupy your time while traveling and a journal to document all that you are grateful for. Savor the possibilities!
Setting expectations and intentions
I plan on having a wonderful trip! How about you?
Travel by air is not quite as convenient as it used to be and we’ve got to accept that. Expect you’ll be changing planes more often than you used to and jostled around during that fluster-filled TSA screening. That’s just the way it is and that’s what everyone goes through.
Take a deep breath and accept it, know you are not alone, then let it go. There are always thing to be grateful for. One of them is just getting to travel in a way that didn’t exist for your great grandparents! Remind yourself to pause in gratitude when things go on schedule.
Don’t miss the good stuff. When you take a moment to appreciate a kind gate agent, a pleasant seat-mate or good service along the way, everyone gets a lift. Make sure to share your gratitude openly with others during travel to boost their energy too.
If you find yourself in a delay or a less than optimal situation, there really is no need to add to the drama. Calmly wait for more information, say a prayer for the people who are working on solving your problem, and remember that you have your survival kit. Dig in and reward yourself with the wonderful surprises you chose for yourself.
Acupressure Resources for the Journey
Several years ago I invested in a great book called Reaching Further by psychologist John Hartung, PhD. His book is full of wonderful tips for getting through most of the top stresses that plague business people, including travel. In the section of his book on jet lag, he provides a process to adjust and re-synchronize the body’s meridians during travel so that when the plane lands, the traveler’s body has adjusted to the meridians and time zone of the destination. Dr. Hartung credits these instructions to a book written by my friends and teachers Donna Eden and David Feinstein (1998).
Here’s how it works:
1. Note the following 12 tapping points and times
Nail bed of Index finger closest to thumb 5-7 AM
Under knee cap, slightly toward outside 7-9 AM
Inside edge of foot, just behind ball of foot 9-11 AM
Palm of hand, along valley between pinky & ring finger 11AM-1 PM
Pinkie side of wrist, in fold where wrist moves 1 – 3 PM
Outside of foot, second joint on baby toe 3-5 PM
Behind the knee 5-7 PM
Center of the palm of hand 7-9 PM
Top of forearm, 1/3 of way between wrist and elbow 9-11PM
Outer side of foot, 1/3 of way between baby toe and heal 11P – 1AM
Big toe, on inside nail bed of toenail 1-3 AM
Inside wrist (thumb side) where watchband would cross 3-5 AM
2. When seated on the plane, notice the current time, then calculate the current time at your destination. For example, I will be boarding around 9:10 AM EST which is 4:10 AM Maui Time. Identify these two times on the list of points above. 9:10AM is the departure point and 4:10AM is arrival point. Tap each point for about 1 minute while you wait for the plan to depart. Tap the left side then switch to the right. If possible, tap both departure and arrive appoints simultaneously. In this case, it’s not! I’d tap the left foot point, then switch to the left wrist, then tap the left foot, then the left inside wrist. Note your tapping points and times so you can keep track of your progress.
3. Every 2 hours, move to the next set of points – 11:10 AM EST and 6:10 AM Maui and tap as above. In this case, I can tap both the 1:10 AM palm point and the 6:10 AM thumb points simultaneously with the thumb and index finger of my other hand.
4. If you sleep through any of the times, simply refer to your notes, begin where you left off and tap the noted points in sequence until you catch up with the present times at your departure and destination.
5. If the flight is longer than 8 hours (like mine) add this extra step for the last 4 hours of your flight: Find the point associated with the time of your expected arrival at the destination (mine is 6:20 PM – behind the knee) and tap this point for about a minute every hour or so. Tap both sides simultaneously. If you are asleep during the last 4 hours and miss a tapping, it’s okay – just tap the points upon waking. When you arrive, you will notice that the points you are tapping correspond to the local time.
After Arrival – Adjusting to Your Destination
This is the best part whether you are going out or coming home.
1. Assume the routines, meals and bedtime appropriate for the local time! Debra Green, author of Endless Energy, suggests standing barefoot on the grass or beach at your destination within the first few minutes of arrival. I can’t quite see that happening when I return to frigid Ohio, but in Maui, that sounds wonderful.
2. If it is daytime when you arrive, it’s advisable to get out in the sunlight and spend some time outdoors.
3. Continue tapping the meridian points that correspond to the local time as the time changes. When I arrive in Maui on Saturday, the sun may be going down, but it won’t be time for bed. My job will be to stay up until 10PM or so, which is more like my usual bedtime at home. I probably won’t have much trouble sleeping at that point.
4. If waking up too early is the problem, then it is also advisable to tap the point corresponding to the local time to help you return to sleep (if I awaken at 3:15 AM, I would tap the inside of the wrist).
I wish you a safe and healthy journey and expect one for myself too. Feel free to print this blog for future reference or for helping someone you love who has a trip planned.
Bon Voyage!
