I was recently on a plane from France to China. I had been working like crazy in the airport because I had a bit of conference pre-prep to do. I had been working in a cafe without power. I got on the plane thinking well of course I'd be able to plug in to keep working. I'd only work a few hours in the beginning of the 12-hour haul, and then again at the end of the night flight (China's morning). Reasonable, right? Well, no. No power on the plane to plug into. Most, if not all, movies in Mandarin (not a language I speak). A few podcasts downloaded on my burner phone, including one of your own. No music. No meditations. And those things weren't available on the plane's entertainment service. It wasn't a non-working time I had chosen. It was imposed. And it was what it was. I ate, I slept, I sat quietly. I meditated. I watched the people on the plane. I listened to the engines. My brain and my body dropped down. And you know what, Vivek? I landed refreshed and ready, instead of fraught and frazzled. It wasn't what I would have chosen, but it turned out to be exactly what my brain and body (not to mention my spirit and soul) needed.
Julie, I love this so much. Sometimes the universe has to step in and enforce the boundaries we find so hard to set for ourselves! There’s a beautiful lesson in how quickly our minds and bodies drop into a deeper, healthier rhythm when the option to constantly 'do' is taken away. I’m so glad you landed feeling refreshed and nourished.
I love this so much Vivek! I will join you on reclaiming plane thinking time bc that’s all we got left besides the shower! I also bought a flip phone and an experimenting using it on my family vacation in July so I can be in the present and avoid the constant pings and dings!
I am right there with you, Erica! Reclaiming that space is so vital. I am incredibly eager to hear how the flip phone experiment goes on your family vacation this July. Intentionally introducing that kind of 'friction' against constant pings is one of the best gifts we can give our loved ones - and ourselves.
Loved your take on reclaiming those “productive” hours to be actually productive for you…
One thing I’ve recently started doing on flights is striking up conversations with the complete stranger sitting next to me. As someone as recognizable as you, I can imagine that’s a little more challenging. But for someone like me, there’s something incredibly liberating about having an open conversation with someone you’ll likely never see again. There’s no fear of judgment, no expectations, and no pressure for the experience to become a story. Brings a little more human side to our “social” life. Thank you for sharing!
Conversations with complete strangers possess a unique magic because they are entirely unburdened by past baggage or future expectations. It’s pure, present-moment human connection. Thank you for reminding us of the liberating joy found in those loose ties. I have a piece on this exact idea coming up soon!
As a fan/follower of Dr. Murthy's work I'm surprised no one has mentioned using planetime to connect with fellow passengers. I used to board a plane glaring at everyone in my way especially my seatmates, just to make sure they would not even consider engaging in conversation with me. However, after learning the importance of connection, especially with strangers I'm now one of those friendly passengers who smiles at everyone and silently (and sometimes not so silently) sends the message I'm open for conversation! Once I deplane I go back to scowling at everyone.
Talking with strangers, isn’t that how we make friends? As opposed to most people I see on planes, who are either-playing mindless video games or watching The Office, Family Guy or other mindless films. Sad really.
Susan, this made me smile! First of all, thank you for sharing that shift - it takes real, mindful intention to move from a defensive posture to an open one. Those micro-moments of connection with seatmates can completely change the energy of a long journey. As for going back to scowling post-deplaning... well, baby steps!
I’ve found that some of the most uncanny connections happen on airplanes. The one that stands out most was when I struck up a conversation with my seatmate and discovered she was the very same woman my daughter had contacted just a couple of months earlier about a potential internship. That chance encounter ended up opening the door to other opportunities as well.
You never know when a simple conversation will turn into an unexpected connection, an unlikely friendship, or even a life-changing opportunity. Sometimes the people we’re meant to meet are sitting right beside us—we just have to say hello!
I'm all in on this one. I did a lot of international travel for my job when my kids were younger. I embraced the space of the plane, where there was no one to take care of and people to help take care of me! I still hold this sacred, and feel a pavlovian relaxation even for long flights. For those of us who are likely to work somewhat compulsively, this is an easy boundary to set in many ways.
Love this, Vivek! I use plane time to strike up a conversation, read and watch something that makes me feel good and not have to think too hard. It’s bucket filling time for me.
I enjoy writing on planes but don't do it enough. The hum of the airplane acts as a lulling, serenity-producing force, allowing you to hum melodies louder than your normally could during the songwriting process without drawing (excessive) attention to yourself. There are so many stories happening on planes, too--so many reasons people are traveling, half of them going to an unfamiliar destination, the other half returning from one. It's a beautiful experience when you allow your mind to breathe it in.
Travis, you’ve captured the poetry of air travel beautifully here. The ambient white noise of a plane really does act as a unique canvas for creativity. We are all mid-story, suspended together for a little while.
I refuse to add a credit card to my United app so I won’t be tempted to buy WiFi. The plane has always been protected time for me to read books, watch movies or shows I wouldn’t otherwise catch, or simply look out onto the landscape below if it’s a short flight and we’re traveling at a lower altitude.
I love this Vivek. I had an international career - always on a plane and preparing for the week of meetings and goals to accomplish. The plane ride gave me uninterrupted time to focus as opposed to the office where I had back to back meetings and tasks. The more seniority I had the more I needed uninterrupted time. Often, I would even take a 12 inch stack of reports and articles that I would read through to keep up with the trends and best practices, and many times, my best ideas came while flying. I had the ability to think calmly and holistically and connect strategic dots. On the way back home, I either slept right through the flight or watched movies. This felt great. This was during my 30s, 40s and 50s when I had a lot of energy and ambitions to learn and accomplish things. Somewhere in my 50s I came to feel the need to just sit, read a good book or watch a good movie. This was just as good as I pretty much could handle meetings and accomplish my goals with my team and with the institutional knowledge and experience I had gained over the years. I have to say that it felt great. I rested, cleared my mind and energy and focused when I had to. Your words took me back through this journey and also reminded me that discerning when to slow down, rest, or retreat into silence is delicious and rewarding too.
What a beautiful reflection on the changing seasons of a career and life, Silvia. Thank you for sharing your journey. Discovering the 'deliciousness' of simple silence and rest later in life is a beautiful shift from validating ourselves by what we produce to valuing ourselves for just being.
I cannot sleep on a plane, so am always looking for something to do - and often times it is work. I came across an article awhile back showing passengers smoking on the plane while reading their “American Way Magazine.” Let’s not go back there ;-)
I take a book or magazine on all plane trips. The paper kind, not digital. Most airport gift shops stock the traditional smaller paperback books, and they don’t take much space, plus many magazines I don’t usually read. Most people I can see nearby are hooked on their digital devices.
"Before retiring from teaching, I made an annual cross-country trip to visit family and friends. Once WiFi became available, I used it purely for entertainment — never work. On red-eyes I'd eventually settle into noise-canceling headphones, meditation music, and sleep. On my last daytime flight I spent a little time in conversation on my tablet before doing the same. It occurs to me I may be among the rare few who've never once engaged in business at 35,000 feet."
This post really resonated. Flying used to be a true respite for me, and the only time I would watch movies as my wife and I don't own a TV and generally don't stream. Since traveling in my current role, often with our CEO who is an avid plane worker, I've felt the loss of that rare time where it truly feels ok to be "unproductive". I'm going to try and at least read a little during my next plane travel, a book that is at least tangentially related to work to justify it to my boss perhaps...
Henry, I really appreciate you highlighting this reality. It is incredibly tough to protect your peace when the organizational leadership around you models non-stop output. But remember, oftentimes rest is a prerequisite for good work. I hope that 'tangentially work-related' book gives you the boundary shield you need, but more importantly, I hope it gives your mind a true chance to wander.
I was recently on a plane from France to China. I had been working like crazy in the airport because I had a bit of conference pre-prep to do. I had been working in a cafe without power. I got on the plane thinking well of course I'd be able to plug in to keep working. I'd only work a few hours in the beginning of the 12-hour haul, and then again at the end of the night flight (China's morning). Reasonable, right? Well, no. No power on the plane to plug into. Most, if not all, movies in Mandarin (not a language I speak). A few podcasts downloaded on my burner phone, including one of your own. No music. No meditations. And those things weren't available on the plane's entertainment service. It wasn't a non-working time I had chosen. It was imposed. And it was what it was. I ate, I slept, I sat quietly. I meditated. I watched the people on the plane. I listened to the engines. My brain and my body dropped down. And you know what, Vivek? I landed refreshed and ready, instead of fraught and frazzled. It wasn't what I would have chosen, but it turned out to be exactly what my brain and body (not to mention my spirit and soul) needed.
Julie, I love this so much. Sometimes the universe has to step in and enforce the boundaries we find so hard to set for ourselves! There’s a beautiful lesson in how quickly our minds and bodies drop into a deeper, healthier rhythm when the option to constantly 'do' is taken away. I’m so glad you landed feeling refreshed and nourished.
I love this so much Vivek! I will join you on reclaiming plane thinking time bc that’s all we got left besides the shower! I also bought a flip phone and an experimenting using it on my family vacation in July so I can be in the present and avoid the constant pings and dings!
I am right there with you, Erica! Reclaiming that space is so vital. I am incredibly eager to hear how the flip phone experiment goes on your family vacation this July. Intentionally introducing that kind of 'friction' against constant pings is one of the best gifts we can give our loved ones - and ourselves.
Loved your take on reclaiming those “productive” hours to be actually productive for you…
One thing I’ve recently started doing on flights is striking up conversations with the complete stranger sitting next to me. As someone as recognizable as you, I can imagine that’s a little more challenging. But for someone like me, there’s something incredibly liberating about having an open conversation with someone you’ll likely never see again. There’s no fear of judgment, no expectations, and no pressure for the experience to become a story. Brings a little more human side to our “social” life. Thank you for sharing!
Conversations with complete strangers possess a unique magic because they are entirely unburdened by past baggage or future expectations. It’s pure, present-moment human connection. Thank you for reminding us of the liberating joy found in those loose ties. I have a piece on this exact idea coming up soon!
Though they still kind of mortify my YA kids. Ha!
These loose connections are so important to our mental health. I love a light conversation across seats or restaurant tables. Always lights me up!
As a fan/follower of Dr. Murthy's work I'm surprised no one has mentioned using planetime to connect with fellow passengers. I used to board a plane glaring at everyone in my way especially my seatmates, just to make sure they would not even consider engaging in conversation with me. However, after learning the importance of connection, especially with strangers I'm now one of those friendly passengers who smiles at everyone and silently (and sometimes not so silently) sends the message I'm open for conversation! Once I deplane I go back to scowling at everyone.
Talking with strangers, isn’t that how we make friends? As opposed to most people I see on planes, who are either-playing mindless video games or watching The Office, Family Guy or other mindless films. Sad really.
Susan, this made me smile! First of all, thank you for sharing that shift - it takes real, mindful intention to move from a defensive posture to an open one. Those micro-moments of connection with seatmates can completely change the energy of a long journey. As for going back to scowling post-deplaning... well, baby steps!
Why would you want to take the joy of being grouchy away from me, I wear it like a badge of honor!
I’ve found that some of the most uncanny connections happen on airplanes. The one that stands out most was when I struck up a conversation with my seatmate and discovered she was the very same woman my daughter had contacted just a couple of months earlier about a potential internship. That chance encounter ended up opening the door to other opportunities as well.
You never know when a simple conversation will turn into an unexpected connection, an unlikely friendship, or even a life-changing opportunity. Sometimes the people we’re meant to meet are sitting right beside us—we just have to say hello!
I'm all in on this one. I did a lot of international travel for my job when my kids were younger. I embraced the space of the plane, where there was no one to take care of and people to help take care of me! I still hold this sacred, and feel a pavlovian relaxation even for long flights. For those of us who are likely to work somewhat compulsively, this is an easy boundary to set in many ways.
I used to get my best ideas on planes because I had space to think freely. I used a lot of cocktail napkins for those ideas!
Same! I keep a notebook for that.
I love this! I love a cocktail napkin note. I think I’m going to keep this as a goal - a real pen and some napkin jotting!
Love this, Vivek! I use plane time to strike up a conversation, read and watch something that makes me feel good and not have to think too hard. It’s bucket filling time for me.
I enjoy writing on planes but don't do it enough. The hum of the airplane acts as a lulling, serenity-producing force, allowing you to hum melodies louder than your normally could during the songwriting process without drawing (excessive) attention to yourself. There are so many stories happening on planes, too--so many reasons people are traveling, half of them going to an unfamiliar destination, the other half returning from one. It's a beautiful experience when you allow your mind to breathe it in.
Travis, you’ve captured the poetry of air travel beautifully here. The ambient white noise of a plane really does act as a unique canvas for creativity. We are all mid-story, suspended together for a little while.
I refuse to add a credit card to my United app so I won’t be tempted to buy WiFi. The plane has always been protected time for me to read books, watch movies or shows I wouldn’t otherwise catch, or simply look out onto the landscape below if it’s a short flight and we’re traveling at a lower altitude.
I love this Vivek. I had an international career - always on a plane and preparing for the week of meetings and goals to accomplish. The plane ride gave me uninterrupted time to focus as opposed to the office where I had back to back meetings and tasks. The more seniority I had the more I needed uninterrupted time. Often, I would even take a 12 inch stack of reports and articles that I would read through to keep up with the trends and best practices, and many times, my best ideas came while flying. I had the ability to think calmly and holistically and connect strategic dots. On the way back home, I either slept right through the flight or watched movies. This felt great. This was during my 30s, 40s and 50s when I had a lot of energy and ambitions to learn and accomplish things. Somewhere in my 50s I came to feel the need to just sit, read a good book or watch a good movie. This was just as good as I pretty much could handle meetings and accomplish my goals with my team and with the institutional knowledge and experience I had gained over the years. I have to say that it felt great. I rested, cleared my mind and energy and focused when I had to. Your words took me back through this journey and also reminded me that discerning when to slow down, rest, or retreat into silence is delicious and rewarding too.
What a beautiful reflection on the changing seasons of a career and life, Silvia. Thank you for sharing your journey. Discovering the 'deliciousness' of simple silence and rest later in life is a beautiful shift from validating ourselves by what we produce to valuing ourselves for just being.
I cannot sleep on a plane, so am always looking for something to do - and often times it is work. I came across an article awhile back showing passengers smoking on the plane while reading their “American Way Magazine.” Let’s not go back there ;-)
I wrote about this recently too! Delta recently had a “flow state flight” from JFK-CPH, to encourage tapping in to your creativity — so cool!
https://alisonzamora.substack.com/p/take-your-ideas-on-the-road
I take a book or magazine on all plane trips. The paper kind, not digital. Most airport gift shops stock the traditional smaller paperback books, and they don’t take much space, plus many magazines I don’t usually read. Most people I can see nearby are hooked on their digital devices.
"Before retiring from teaching, I made an annual cross-country trip to visit family and friends. Once WiFi became available, I used it purely for entertainment — never work. On red-eyes I'd eventually settle into noise-canceling headphones, meditation music, and sleep. On my last daytime flight I spent a little time in conversation on my tablet before doing the same. It occurs to me I may be among the rare few who've never once engaged in business at 35,000 feet."
This post really resonated. Flying used to be a true respite for me, and the only time I would watch movies as my wife and I don't own a TV and generally don't stream. Since traveling in my current role, often with our CEO who is an avid plane worker, I've felt the loss of that rare time where it truly feels ok to be "unproductive". I'm going to try and at least read a little during my next plane travel, a book that is at least tangentially related to work to justify it to my boss perhaps...
Henry, I really appreciate you highlighting this reality. It is incredibly tough to protect your peace when the organizational leadership around you models non-stop output. But remember, oftentimes rest is a prerequisite for good work. I hope that 'tangentially work-related' book gives you the boundary shield you need, but more importantly, I hope it gives your mind a true chance to wander.
I was told many times Rest is part of Work (not very good at applying though) but Nowhere this is more true that in the Plane.