3 Reasons I Choose The Window Seat

I travel a fair amount for work. That means a lot of time in airports and on planes. If you're a just a casual traveler on an economy airline like Southwest, you might not always get your first choice of seat, but I'm writing today to tell you that the coveted window seat is worth fighting for whenever possible, and not just for the obvious reasons.

(Of course none of this applies when a nice, attractive lady asks to sit next you. You did offer her the window seat,  right?)

So you're lucky enough to score a window seat and you did everyone else a favor by emptying your bladder pre-fight. Now what?  Sure, it's always fun to update Instagram with the obligatory #wingshot and yes, the inside seat offers at least a somewhat tolerable place to rest your head, but those aren't the only reasons I usually snag the first available window.

1. EASIER NETWORKING.

I have made some great personal and professional connections on flights. Striking up a conversation with your seatmates is one of the best ways to have the time in the air fly by (no pun intended). The advantage to being in the window seat is that people in the middle and aisle have a natural proclivity to look in your direction. The first time they glance out the window is usually the easiest time to make an introduction and ask them about their trip. Because the aisle is usually the next seat taken, this means you already have a good conversation started by the time someone finally climbs into the middle seat. Rather than be rude and continue your conversation over the top of them, take the opportunity to ask their name and why they're traveling. Introduce your other seat mate by name if it feels appropriate- a great memory recall exercise. If either of them are business professionals, your subtle assertiveness and attention to detail will impress. Now you have two people engaged in conversation with you and you never have to turn your head away from one or the other.

2. MEDITATION/DEEP THOUGHT

Sometimes you won't be sitting next to the warmest people, or if you're a natural introvert like me, sometimes you just need to decompress and recharge, which is often the case after a busy work trip. The window seat is great for this too. No matter how many times I fly, I never get tired of staring out the window during takeoff and landing. There is something about getting into a 90,000 lb metal tube going 500 mph and lifting into the air that will always excite the little boy inside of me.

Once things are settled down in the cabin, people are sleeping, reading, or otherwise minding their own, that's when I make the conscious effort to quiet my mind. I will either do this simply by putting in ear plugs, closing my eyes, and focusing on my breathing, or with the help of a guided meditation app like Headspace. The act of meditation has many proven benefits, but for me it's mostly about relaxing and letting go of any pent up stress before moving onto another stimulating task like listening to a podcast or writing. The reason the window seat is important for this is because if you're a novice at meditation like me, you'll find your mind wandering, wondering whether you're touching either of the people next to you, or worse, disrupted if one of them has to get up.

Looking down over our beautiful country also has the added benefit of serving as a constant reminder how small we really are as individuals and that it takes the effort of tons of people coming together to make businesses, cities,  and infrastructure.. Seeing mother nature's beauty from the air also encourages me to to get outside of the big cities and enjoy her more often. I encourage you the next time you're flying to appreciate all the cool patterns in the landscape and weather,  and observe where and how we're also continuously scarring it.

3. NO DISRUPTIONS

Of course there are those flights when you just need to get some sleep or get some work done. Sitting in the window seat means nobody climbing over you to use the rest room, or taking a stray beverage cart to the knee or elbow. If you're like me while reading or writing, it's hard to get back into a state of flow once someone interrupts you.

On the flip side, if you end up in an aisle seat, there is the added benefit of being able to stand up and move around any time you want which can be nice on longer legs (again, no pun intended).

No matter how you travel, as an Active Freelancer, it's important to make the most of your time spent commuting. Let me know some of your commuting productivity tips and tricks in the comments!