Nervous Flyer + Gamer? Try Playing Mario Kart

Hi! I'm Jon, and I'm a nervous flyer. 👋 Always have been!

Don't get me wrong: I totally understand and agree that riding on a commercial airliner is generally one of the safest activities that one can engage in. It's a lot safer than driving a car, for example.

Against my will, though, while flying -- especially during takeoffs, landings, and during turbulence -- some primitive part of my brain insistently alerts me that I'm in danger. Even though at the same time, I know that I'm not. It's pretty weird and annoying.

Past attempts to cope with this by distracting myself with movies, reading, or playing video games generally haven't helped.

In recent years, though, I've found a workaround that, quite oddly, actually is fairly helpful: Playing Mario Kart!

For whatever reason, while I'm playing a Mario Kart race, that primitive part of my brain that normally sounds the alarm as sensations of motion are happening while in flight, instead seems to interpret those sensations as motions that are happening in the game -- and the unpleasant "danger" feelings are largely ameliorated!

I've found that this works for me both with the latest Mario Kart game, Mario Kart 8 for the Nintendo Switch, as well as with the older (and cheaper!) Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS.

To maximize my time spent in races (instead of between races), as well as to enjoy the gameplay more, on my airplane ride Mario Kart 8 games, I've taken to using the "custom rules" game mode (found on the game's main menu under Single Player > VS Race):

• Items: "Mushrooms Only." More opportunities to take those fun course shortcuts that require a speed-boosting mushroom. And I don't miss having my racing interrupted by lightning bolts and blue shells!
  
• Race Count: Depending on the available time, I pick some high value, like 24 or 48.
  
• Course Selection: "Automatic - In order." 

Would this trick work with other racing games, too? Good question! Maybe? Mario Kart is the only driver-perspective (or behind-driver-perspective) racing game that I've spent more than a short time with over the past few years.

If you're a fellow nervous flyer who is also a gamer, consider giving Mario Kart a try next time you find yourself up in the air!  (And don't forget to bring a USB battery pack to keep that Nintendo Switch charged!)