by Leigh Goessl

Created on: July 21, 2009   Last Updated: February 01, 2010

Airline flights can be exhausting. It is not uncommon to experience long waits for takeoff or landing, time in the air and several minutes to deplane. Connecting flights are also more the norm than the exception.

All the time spent in the air can bring upon a feeling of restlessness, especially since you're confined to limited space. When sitting in an airplane there is little space to stretch your legs out and not much room to walk as you're flying several thousands of feet up in the air.

For many people it is easy to get on edge when restricted in this way, and passing the time on a flight can be difficult unless you're prepared.

You can help alleviate some of that fidgety feeling by bringing materials with you on board to try to distract and help pass the time. Even better if you can plan several options in your carry-on bag. The more activities you bring to distract you the more quickly time will tend to pass by, and before you know it, your plane will be landing at your destination.

Here are a few ideas of ways to try and help pass the time on your flight:

*Reading Materials

Reading materials are one of the most popular ways most people engage in to pass the time while in-flight. Flights are the perfect opportunity to catch up on news, magazines you've wanted to read or simply some recreational reading you never seem to have the time for.

Some people prefer light reading, others tend to delve into something a bit heavier that they can get engrossed in to fill those restless hours. Even if you don't feel like reading, it's always a good idea to bring something to read, just in case. It's a good stand-by activity. If anything, you can bring a word-find or crossword puzzle book.

*Take a Nap

Sleep is probably the other most popular stand-by people tend to use to pass the time. Some people nod off as soon as the plane starts its engines, and this is a great way to allow time to slip past if you're able to doze into dreamland for an hour, two or more. Some people cannot sleep, but they do manage to fade in and out, which does tend to make time go more quickly.

*Listen to Music

Listening to music is a great way to keep your mind occupied on a flight. Try bringing along an MP3, iPod or other music gadget and settle back into your seat and listen to your favorite tunes. This may even help lull you to sleep if you're too distracted by the activity on the plane to doze off.

A word of advice, be sure you load enough songs to whet your listening appetite to rotate through so you don't get bored, and be sure your device is charged enough or that you have enough batteries. You also might want to consider bringing several different styles of music to suit your mood during the time you're flying.

*Pick up a Pen and Write

Writing is another good activity to help pass the time. You can write notes, letters, articles, poetry, whatever it is that strikes your fancy. Are you a student? Flights are the perfect opportunity to get those papers and assignments written. If your job entails you to write reports, budgets or other tedious task, flights are a good time to get this work done and out of the way.

*Fire up the Laptop

While Internet access is not always an option, you can still catch up on work, play games or get some e-mails drafted. Being on the computer tends to make time fly by, and if you have some activity to catch up on or you can be productive with, this is a great way to pass the time.

Airline travel is pretty quick, but time sometimes can feel as if it's standing still when you're flying, but by planning ahead and bringing something to do, you can make this time go by faster. Before you know it, you'll feel those jet wheels opening and your plane touching the ground.

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