Travel Chaos: 3 Stress Lessons I Learned

Happy Sunday!

Early Friday morning, the notifications began.

I was at home when I got the first notification.?

"Your flight to California is delayed."?

Then another one came.?

And another.

I was scheduled to speak at The Association of Black Women Physicians event on Saturday.

Ironically, I would talk about selfcare, stress management, and burnout prevention.

If you've experienced a flight delay, you know the feeling.?

The anxiety builds. Stress levels rise.

I arrived at the airport in pure chaos.?

Crowds were everywhere.?

The staff was overwhelmed.?

The lines were long.

There was a global IT problem affecting flights and businesses worldwide.?

Everyone was on edge.?

People were frustrated and angry.

Passengers were grumbling, and some using foul language.

Some had spent the night at the airport.

Amidst this, I had to set my intention.?

I chose to manage my stressors.?

I had a chance to practice what I was about to teach.

Here are 3 lessons about stress I learned.

Lesson 1: Choose Your Attitude.

When everything seems out of control, your attitude is the one thing you can control.?

I had to remind myself of this as I walked through the crowded terminal.?

I decided to stay positive.?

I acknowledged my stress but didn’t let it consume me.?

This made a world of difference.

Lesson 2: Practice a Calming Routine

With a stressful day ahead, I leaned on my routine.?

My wake-up routine keeps me calm.?

It includes deep breathing exercises.?

A short meditation session.?

Here’s how you can implement this:

- Deep Breathing: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 7, exhale for 8.

- Meditation: Find a quiet spot. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath.

This routine was my anchor.?

It kept me grounded amidst the chaos.

Here's a free stress reduction guide you can use:

Lesson 3: Shut off the news and focus on gratitude.

I was stuck on the tarmac for hours.?

It was hot and uncomfortable.?

The news was blaring constant updates about the IT outage.?

It was overwhelming.?

I shut off the news.?

Instead, I focused on gratitude.?

I started counting my blessings.

- ? I was safe.

- ? I had meaningful work.

- ? I had the opportunity to speak to inspiring women.

Women were traveling from far and wide to hear my presentation.

Instead of fear.?

I was focused on optimism and visualized my presentation.

This shift in mindset helped.?

Despite the delays, I found peace in acknowledging the good.

But this experience reminded me of something important.

We can't control everything.?

Stress is a part of life.?

But we can choose how we respond to it.

To each of you facing stress and uncertainty, remember.?

Your response matters.?

Choose your attitude, practice calming routines, and focus on gratitude.?

These lessons aren't just for the workplace—they're for life.

If you need help designing a stress reduction strategy for your team, I’m here for you.?

Just hit reply.

Wishing you the best,

Dr. Beckford

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you:

1. Boost your team’s well-being and productivity through a customized 1:1 presentation.

2. Grab your stress reduction guide.

PPS. And for those wondering, I made it to the event.