6 Ways to Beat Boredom on Long-Haul Flights

Whether you’re traveling for business or to spend time with your family over the holidays, you may have to be stuck on an airplane for longer than you’d like. Long-haul flights can be highly stressful and exhausting. When you’re trapped in the air for an extended period of time, you can quickly become restless or uncomfortable. However, one of the most difficult symptoms of long-haul flights is boredom.

Boredom can take over pretty easily after you’ve been on a plane for a few hours. If you’ve already had your meal and are struggling to fall asleep, you might wonder what else you can do to pass the time. Fortunately, we’re here to help you survive your next long-haul flight with a few helpful tips. Keep these fun activities in mind the next time you’re stuck counting down the hours until landing.

  • Turn On Some Tunes

Music is something that unites all of us, no matter what interests we have or what our personalities are like. With a plethora of streaming services available today, it’s difficult not to find an artist or genre that suits your specific tastes. All you have to do to stay entertained on your next flight is put together a playlist of your favorite tunes and listen to it using the best wireless earbuds.

There are plenty of ways to customize your listening experience so that you can get the most out of it. You can create a playlist featuring a variety of your top songs, albums, artists, or genres. Additionally, many streaming services offer tailored recommendations based on the music you’ve listened to in the past. If you’re eager to explore a completely different type of music, let your streaming platform of choice surprise you with its suggestions. You may be surprised at what you discover.

  • Lose Yourself in a Book

It’s difficult to be bored when you’re spending your time in a fictional world. While you pack for your next long-distance flight, remember to bring along a good book. It can be a treasured copy of your favorite classic or a new read that you picked up from the library. If you want to pack more than one book but can’t afford to take up precious space in your luggage, bring an e-reader with you. This useful gadget allows you to devour as many stories as you want without having to lug around heavy volumes.

Regardless of the method you choose, spending your time reading is a great way to leave boredom behind. You can go from historical fiction to suspense in a single flight, allowing you to have multiple adventures before the plane even hits the ground.

  • Do a Crossword Puzzle

Do you want to give your mind a workout? Crossword puzzles are not only a fun pastime, but they can also enhance your reasoning skills, improve your memory, and sharpen your vocabulary. By working on a crossword during your flight, you’ll become so engrossed in the mental exercise that you’ll forget you were ever bored in the first place.

As with books, you can choose whatever puzzle format works best for you. There are plenty of apps that you can browse if you prefer to work on a crossword on your phone or table, and you can even choose a difficulty level that matches up with your skills. Otherwise, you can bring along a book of puzzles to keep yourself busy during the entire flight. Whether you’re completely new to crossword puzzles or a seasoned pro, you’ll surely keep busy with this enjoyable activity. 

  • Learn the Target Language

If you’re on a long-haul flight, chances are you’re headed to a land whose people speak a different language than your own. Instead of panicking about the language barrier, use the lengthy flight as an opportunity to study some key words and phrases in the target language. Learning a new language comes with a myriad of benefits for your overall well-being, such as improved memory, enriched creativity, an increased attention span, and enhanced cognition. You can also boost your confidence and cultural awareness by immersing yourself in a language other than your own.

Choosing to learn the basics of a new language can also benefit those around you. When the locals see that you’re making an effort to communicate in their native tongue, they will be more eager to converse and connect with you. As a result, you can form meaningful bonds with the people around you during your trip.

  • Plan Out Your Trip

If you haven’t done so already, take some time to make a list of the activities that you want to do during your trip. Whether you can’t wait to hit the beach or go sightseeing, write down all the plans that you have for your journey. Having a clear outline helps you know exactly where to begin once you settle into your hotel room. If you’re on a business trip, review the work-related tasks you need to complete during your stay, and keep track of all your meetings and other appointments. Not only will this keep you busy, but it will also help to clear your head and organize your trip before landing.

  • Keep in Touch

The friends and family you left back home will be eager to hear from you. Even if it’s just a simple check-in, making the effort to see how your loved ones are doing is a great way to fill up your time. Not only will your friends or family members appreciate it, but you’ll also get the chance to connect with them before you begin your busy week. If your airline offers Wi-Fi, make sure you contact your pals through texting or some type of messaging app.

Keep Yourself Busy With These Fun Activities

While long-haul flights may be a major source of boredom, they can also be the perfect opportunity for entertainment. No matter how you decide to spend your time in the air, it’s ultimately up to you to make the best of your journey overseas.

Resources— Rosetta Stone, X Days in Y