My work often takes me to different corners of India. I get to meet fascinating people, explore new cities, and occasionally indulge in the local cuisine. Recently, I found myself flying to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Bangalore all in the same week. To anyone working a regular 9 to 5, that might sound like a dream. And in many ways, it is. But the truth is, business travel also comes with its fair share of waiting, especially at airports.
What used to feel like wasted hours sitting at gates or wandering around terminals has now become one of my favorite times to recharge. Over the years, I have learned that these pauses between flights can be powerful moments for reflection, learning, and even movement.
Here are five ways I turn airport time into something meaningful and productive.
1. Create a Personal or Professional Goal List
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Airport lounges and waiting areas offer a surprisingly great setting for thinking clearly. Away from daily distractions and in-between destinations, I often find it easier to reflect on the bigger picture.
One of the most useful habits I have built is writing down short- and long-term goals while waiting for a flight. These can be related to health, relationships, finances, personal growth, or career milestones. I find that being in transit creates a natural break that lets me zoom out and think about what really matters.
Some prompts I use include:
- What do I want to achieve this quarter?
- Where do I feel the most aligned right now?
- What is one bold step I have been postponing?
- What would I like to learn, improve, or change?
This reflection helps me bring clarity not just to my own path, but also to how I lead teams and support others in their growth journeys.
Takeaway: Great leaders do not just chase goals, they pause often to realign with them.
2. Read Something That Sparks Thought
I never travel without my Kindle. And if I forget it, the airport bookstore becomes my backup. Some of my favorite reads have come from random airport purchases. Whether it is a book on leadership, human psychology, innovation, or a fresh biography, I use flight time to stay intellectually nourished.
Here are a few books I have enjoyed recently:
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- Range by David Epstein
- The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander
Reading allows me to reflect, gather new insights, and often, discover language for something I have been experiencing but could not quite articulate.
If reading feels like too much during travel, I sometimes turn to audiobooks or podcasts. The important thing is to stay curious.
Takeaway: Continuous learning is the silent edge that separates high performers from the rest.
Also Read: FocusU Book Nook – Your Essential Reading List
3. Eat Clean and Stay Hydrated
It took me years to learn this, but how you eat while travelling matters more than we think. Early in my career, airport food meant greasy snacks and caffeine overloads. I would arrive at meetings tired and sluggish. Not a great look.
Now, I keep a stash of almonds or date bars in my bag. If I am hungry at the airport, I pick up a fruit bowl, a sandwich, or trail mix. I avoid heavy meals and try to stay hydrated. Something as small as drinking warm water or green tea instead of cola helps me stay clear-headed.
Some personal rules I follow:
- No eating after boarding unless I am truly hungry
- Avoiding deep-fried foods
- Drinking two full bottles of water between security and boarding
- Choosing protein over sugar when I need energy
Takeaway: If you want to lead with clarity, begin by feeding your body with care.
Also Read: 5 Ways to Enhance Employee Engagement
4. Use the Time to Reflect with Intention
Airports are liminal spaces. You are not where you were, and not quite where you are going. That space in-between has always helped me reflect more honestly.
When I sit with a coffee near the gate, I check in with myself. What is working? What is not? Where do I feel aligned? Where am I compromising too much? Am I moving in the direction that actually matters to me?
Sometimes, I journal. Sometimes, I sit quietly and let thoughts come and go. These are the moments where I often find my best ideas, my deepest clarity, or just the emotional reset I did not know I needed.
In leadership, reflection is not a luxury. It is how you grow your ability to respond, instead of react. The more time I give myself to think intentionally, the better I am at navigating my team and decisions with calm and clarity.
Takeaway: In stillness, we meet our wisest selves.
5. Move Your Body Gently and Regularly
Travel can be physically taxing. Long walks through terminals, hours of sitting at gates or in cramped plane seats, it all adds up. I used to ignore the aches until they became too loud to ignore. Now, I move intentionally.
I stretch my legs, roll my ankles, do neck and shoulder rotations, and sometimes walk the length of the terminal a few times. A five-minute yoga video on my phone does wonders. Not only does it relieve tension, but it re-energizes me for the next leg of my day.
Even simple breathing exercises help. Deep breathing while seated has helped me manage pre-presentation jitters, mental fatigue, or just the sense of being rushed all the time.
If I find an empty gate, I sometimes take a few quiet steps just to be present with myself. The movement, no matter how small, is a reminder that I can reset anytime.
Takeaway: A clear mind travels in a body that is well cared for.
Also Read: 5 Magical Lessons from Disney’s “Be My Guest”
Bonus Tip: Make Human Connections
This one is not about networking. It is about noticing. Sometimes, I strike up a conversation with a fellow traveler. Sometimes, I thank the security personnel or compliment the barista. These small moments remind me that leadership is not always grand. It is present. It is human.
I have sat next to people who inspired me, shared stories I will never forget, or simply made a long wait more enjoyable. One of the best conversations I have ever had about leadership came from a chance encounter on a flight from Delhi to Pune.
You never know where the next insight, smile, or perspective might come from.
Takeaway: Stay curious, stay kind. Growth often arrives through other people.
Final Thoughts: The Power of the In-Between
Airports used to frustrate me. Delays, noise, queues, they all felt like obstacles. But over time, I have learned to see them differently. They are not delays. They are invitations. Invitations to pause, to reset, and to invest in myself.
In our fast-moving professional lives, we rarely get the luxury of empty space. But airports offer that. And when used intentionally, that space becomes a catalyst.
So the next time you find yourself seated at a boarding gate, waiting for your flight to be called, do not just scroll endlessly or mindlessly pass the time. Choose instead to stretch, to reflect, to learn, or to reset.
