Understanding Travel Sickness
Many of you out there might be wondering, "What’s travel sickness, Cillian?" Well, it’s that unsettling feeling you get, that tug in your stomach, that dizziness when you're on the move. Don’t get embarrassed, it happens to the best of us, including myself. Travel sickness or motion sickness is due to a disparity in our senses. Our brain, the king of our bodily kingdom, gets confusing signals when we're moving. The eyes, the balance-sensing organs and the different parts of our body send different info to the brain, and the brain, in turn, doesn't know what to do. It's like a bad game of Telephone at a party.
The Impact of Travel Sickness on Professionalism
Now, you might consider travel sickness as just an annoying condition you've got to deal with occasionally. But when you are zipping around for your career, which involves hopping from one city to another or constant long drives, it can be a real detriment to your professionalism. I remember a time when I had a crucial meeting in Auckland, which involved a lengthy ferry ride from Wellington. Halfway through, the travel sickness hit, and I looked more like a shaky zombie than the professional techie when I got off the ferry. I could feel the eyes on me as I stumbled around, I knew I wasn’t making a great first impression. Moreover, the nausea and vomiting associated with the sickness may force you to cancel or be late at work engagements, impacting your productivity and reliability. There's nothing professional about puking your guts out before a major presentation.
Tips on Handling Travel Sickness
If you're wondering, ‘Cillian, how do I stay professional while wrangling with travel sickness, then?", don’t worry, mates. I've got your back. Tip number one – try and focus on the horizon or a stationary object while you're on the move. You're giving your brain a fixed point, which might help it calm down a bit. Try not to read or scroll through your phone while travelling, as this can exacerbate the symptoms. Keep the windows down, get the fresh air pumping in, and close your eyes if needed. And of course, keep some medication handy, just in case. Have your vehicle well ventilated or choose a seat where you experience less motion.
Mocktail Recipes to Combat Travel Sickness
Folks, let me tell you, foodies made a breakthrough in combating travel sickness – ginger. A cup of ginger tea or a Ginger Ale has proved beneficial in keeping the uneasiness at bay. Also, there’s a whole menu of refreshing harmless mocktails that you can sip on. The "Nausea Knockout" mocktail that my Isolde whipped up involves muddled ginger, lemon juice, a dash of honey and sparkling water. Or you can go for the "Ephraim Elixir" - a simple, hydrating combo of coconut water (for the electrolytes), lime juice, mint and a touch of sugar. Go ahead. Ensure the rides don’t mess with your tummy or your head, and most importantly, your work.
Exercise and Breathe Right: Your Armor Against Travel Sickness
They say a sound body leads to a sound mind. It is indeed true in fighting travel sickness as well. Regular physical exercise helps in improving your body's overall balance mechanism and keeps your ear pressure in check. I personally enjoy catching a few waves over at Lyall Bay, but you do you. Deep breathing exercises can also help in warding off that feeling of nausea. A quick five minutes of inhaling and exhaling as slow as you can, can help a lot. I know it might look a bit dorky, doing yoga breathing exercises on a bus, but trust me, it helps. And who cares about looking dorky when you're combatting the nemesis that is travel sickness?
Mental Tricks To Stay Composed
Mind holds strong power over the body, folks. Mental resolve can help you counter the symptoms of travel sickness to a great degree. Preparing your mind before the journey, visualizing a smooth ride and staying positive can all contribute towards battling the you vs. travel sickness saga. By training your brain to anticipate the motion of travel rather than fear it, you can gain a certain level of control over your body's responses. And well, upbringing Ephraim and Isolde with their bags of mischief, trust me, I've mastered the art of mental peace.
Seeking Professional Help
If everything else fails, be prepared to seek medical assistance. Yes, I am a professional, but not that kind! A doctor can provide you with specific strategies tailored to your condition and may prescribe over-the-counter or prescription medications. Sometimes, opt for specialized treatments such as biofeedback or hypnotherapy can also provide relief. So don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it – there's no shame in it. It’s all about keeping the momentum, folks, whether you’re commuting, cruising or jet-setting for work. After all, travel sickness can be tamed. It’s your professionalism, productivity and peace that should take the front seat.
9 comments
Joe Puleo
I've been dealing with this since I started flying for work. The horizon trick works like a charm. Also, ginger chews before takeoff? Game changer. No more vomiting on client calls. Seriously, try it.
Meredith Poley
So let me get this straight. You wrote a 1,200-word essay on ginger ale and deep breathing like it's the secret to corporate survival. Meanwhile, I'm on a plane with a $300 prescription patch and you're telling me to "visualize smooth rides"? Cute.
Ben Jackson
The vestibular system mismatch is a well-documented neurophysiological phenomenon. The fact that you're framing this as a personal triumph over motion sickness instead of a biological reality is… quaint. That said, the ginger mocktails? Solid. Peer-reviewed studies support ginger’s antiemetic properties. I’ve seen it in ICU settings.
Bhanu pratap
Brother, I traveled from Delhi to Mumbai on a 14-hour train last month. I ate ginger candy, kept the window open, and breathed like a yogi. No vomit. No shame. Just peace. You are not alone. The universe is with you. I believe in you.
Ikenga Uzoamaka
This is so basic… why are we even talking about this? I have a 3-year-old who gets motion sickness and I just give her a lollipop and tell her to look at the trees. You’re overcomplicating it. Also, your name is Cillian? That’s Irish. You’re not even from here. Why are you giving career advice?
Mathias Matengu Mabuta
Your entire premise is predicated on the false dichotomy that professionalism is contingent upon the absence of physiological discomfort. This is a neoliberal construct. The body is not a machine to be optimized. Your fixation on "not puking before presentations" is a symptom of capitalist alienation. Also, your spelling of "Isolde" is incorrect. It’s Isolde, not Isolde. You’ve corrupted the myth.
Keith Bloom
Lmao this guy thinks closing his eyes helps. Bro, i've been on a plane with a dude who passed out and drooled on my laptop. That's not "mental peace", that's a biohazard. Also ginger tea? Try Dramamine. It's called medicine for a reason. Stop being a wellness influencer.
Amelia Wigton
The neurosensory conflict model is well-established, but your reliance on anecdotal remedies like coconut water and "visualizing smooth rides" is dangerously reductive. You're conflating placebo with physiology. Furthermore, your use of the term "mates" in an American workplace context is linguistically inappropriate and culturally inauthentic. You need to update your lexicon. And yes, I'm still waiting for the peer-reviewed citation for the "Ephraim Elixir."
Lee Lee
They’re watching you. The airlines, the FAA, the pharmaceutical conglomerates-they all know motion sickness is a gateway. The real reason they don’t want you to take control is because if you master your vestibular system, you’ll realize you don’t need their planes, their pills, or their corporate retreats. You’re being manipulated into believing you need to "stay professional"-when the truth is, the system wants you sick, distracted, and dependent. Drink the ginger tea. But don’t trust the ferry.