If you're uncomfortable flying and get a cold sweat every time you shake, here are 7 tips that should help you stay Zen.

How to better cope with the turbulence

Ah the turbulence... It is one of the greatest sources of anxiety for travellers. And it's true that they can be very impressive, especially in bad weather. Yet they often cause more fear than harm. It is indeed almost impossible for a plane to stall in flight, even in very strong turbulence! They are simply the effect of winds or variations in atmospheric pressure, which are harmless to the aircraft. It's a bit like a car driving on a chaotic road or a boat sailing on a rough sea. You're shaken up, but in the end you're doing very well. Keep these comparisons in mind: they will be valuable to you at time T (as turbulence).

Finally, pilots have a radar screen to help them avoid potentially dangerous storms or winds. They can therefore anticipate the risks and possibly modify the aircraft's route if a danger were to arise on the route.

Look at

the

flight attendants If during the flight you are stressed by something unusual, a noise or jolts, look at the faces of the staff on board. They continue to move normally, smiling, joking, and often even serving the passengers. If the situation was really serious, do you think they'd keep acting like nothing happened? Obviously not. So just relax, everything's fine. Think also of all the hours of flights that these stewardesses have made... Yet they are still there, proof is that the majority of flights are absolutely risk-free!

Listen to soft music

In flight, you can listen to music from your smartphone even if you are in flight mode. If you're feeling rather anxious, download a playlist of soothing, zen slices before you leave on your trip and play them over and over again whenever you're worried. Take out your headphones as soon as your heart starts pounding and think back to all the air disasters in history... You'll see it works!

Take a window seatWhen

your

pulse rate quickens and you're afraid, you tend to look at the other passengers and there's nothing worse than meeting the gaze of a traveller as anxious as you are, or even more so... Fear then becomes collective, almost palpable. So it's better to look through the window and observe the horizon, the panorama, the clouds, the plane's wing... In short, anything but a stressed traveller. You'll feel like you're escaping, less cramped and panicked passengers won't be able to convey their concerns to you.

Do breathing exercisesWhen

you are anxious, you tend to be apneic and breathe poorly. And the less you breathe properly, the more you feel suffocated and the stress that goes with it... So if you panic, close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Inhale normally and exhale slowly to the end of your breath. Repeat the exercise 5 times. You'll feel much better already. Your pulse will have returned to a normal rhythm and you will have thought of something other than the worst-case scenarios that your imagination has worked out.

Chat with passengersTo

take your mind off things, there's nothing like a discussion on the plane. You forget your stress and time goes by much faster. If your neighbour seems like a nice person, find a way to engage him or her in conversation. Maybe it's someone who knows your holiday destination well and will give you valuable advice! If, unfortunately, he or she is autistic, or you don't speak the same language, talk to a hostess or stewardess; they always have interesting stories or anecdotes to tell.

Watch a thrilling TV seriesIf

you're

on a long haul, you'll be treated to a wide range of cinematic programming on the digital screen in front of you. It's a good time to watch all the movies you missed at the cinema! Enough to keep you busy for a few hours. But on a medium-haul or one-hour flight, there is no screen at your disposal

.

.. So, before the flight, download the season of a thrilling series on your computer/ipad/smartphone and off you go! After one or two episodes, it will already be time for the landing and you won't even feel the turbulence!