3 Cool Things to Do During a Flight

“Boredom” should forever be stricken from the English language. On the internet and off, there’s a wealth of activities to keep even the most stir-crazy, near-OCD child mind occupied. Even 30,000 feet in the air aboard modern flights where internet connectivity is fast taking over, there’s no shortage of “things to do”. Here are three of my favorite ways to pass the time while flying …

© Colleen Lane

Old School Games

Sure, almost every plane offers some form of in-flight entertainment (pay-per-view movies, satellite TV, and a zillion music channels). But I still remember “the good old days” of flying. It was the 80s and I was but a youngster. My mother would walk me to the gate to board a flight from Florida to New England to visit my relatives for the holidays. She would pack plenty of travel games in my carry-on: tiny versions of classics like Connect Four, Yahtzee, maybe a deck of cards. Though I was flying alone, I was always the hit of the flight with other kids aboard – I was “the cool kid” with plenty of toys to keep us all occupied. I still think those classic games are a great way to pass the time.

Hop Online

Of course, now with wifi available aboard many flights, the internet can continue to keep us entertained where we were previously “off the grid”. Facebook, Twitter, Minecraft, a little online blackjack (you could even win enough cash to pay for your trip!) … whatever. There’s no shortage of options.

… Or Stay Off the Grid

One of my favorite things to do (particularly on flights without wifi) is to embrace being off the grid. Without internet connectivity, I sometimes opt to disconnect completely – no iPhone, no Kindle, no movies on my laptop. I sit, think, and write. I take actual pen to paper and write my ideas down — random creative tidbits for work or simply for myself. I recognize that it’s the rare moment of silence — of blissful connect — in an ever-connected world. So why not enjoy it?