9 ways to make a layover or travel delay more meaningful
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- Dec 8
- 4 min read
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who respond to travel delays and layovers with unshakeable calm—like my husband—and normal people.
Throughout the 22 flights, four high-speed train trips, and two major charter bus trips I’ve taken this year, I’ve endured plenty of delays and layovers. And while a layover may be slightly preferable to sprinting through an airport to catch an impossible connection, it often feels like wasted “nothing” time.
What are the options? You’re usually trapped in a terminal with an overstuffed carry-on, eating wildly expensive protein bars. You could always consume more screen time, if you don’t mind numbing your soul into oblivion.
But what if we reclaimed this “nothing” time for something meaningful?
Y’all know I believe we can make any place a pilgrimage if we go differently. So here are nine ways to make a layover more meaningful beyond doomscrolling and Doritos.
1. Pray the liturgy of the hours.
Turn your departure gate into a mini-monastery and join the prayer of the universal Church. Whatever time of day your layover occurs, it probably coincides with one of the hours. We love using the free site iBreviary for a simple, straightforward presentation of the office of readings as well as morning, daytime, evening, and night prayer.
2. Practice lectio divina with the daily Mass readings.
Even when you can’t go anywhere, you can always pray. Read the daily Mass readings and follow a simple lectio divina: Read the daily Gospel and ask God what He wants to tell you. Sit quietly and read the passage again, slowly. What words or phrases stand out to you? What parts of the passage relate to your own ideas, feelings, needs, or desires? Tell God about these things as they come to mind. The free Ascension app offers the daily readings, commentary, and short video reflections if you want additional prayer resources.
3. Be open by closing your devices.
In our sensory-overload world, it can be genuinely shocking to reclaim silence. Take off your earbuds. Pocket the device. Look up. “Raw dogging” travel delays and layovers is not mostly about noticing your surroundings. It’s about being physically open to invite connection and conversation with others. You never know who you’ll encounter! On a layover in Amsterdam, I met a man who grew up near New Orleans and swapped some unexpected, fun nostalgia. On a layover in Paris, I heard the amazing life story of a couple from India. Be open and you may gain a rich reward.
4. Ponder saints’ quotes for traveling.
Every break from our ordinary routine and roles is a powerful opportunity to see creation with new eyes and gain new insight. Our friends in Heaven offer us a treasure of wisdom about seeking the Creator through creation (or even an airport terminal). Here’s a round up of saints’ quotes for travel.
5. Try a works of mercy scavenger hunt.
This may be my favorite idea for making a travel delay or layover more meaningful. Get up, walk around, pay attention, and then find creative ways to employ the corporal works of mercy. Maybe you buy the drink for the person behind you? Maybe you give up your seat to someone searching for a place? Challenge yourself or your travel companions to completing all seven.
6. Pray a walking rosary or Stations of the Cross.
The rosary changes the world. I pray the rosary best when I'm walking. After that, keep walking and choose some places around the terminal to pray the Stations of the Cross (this is my favorite version, composed by my favorite person).
7. Use your Catholic Geaux Bag.
Our dear friends operate a nonprofit that distributes “essential sacramentals” in a portable tote. Bring one along on your trips, and then use what’s inside during your travel delays or layovers.
8. Turn people-watching into intercessory prayer.
Obviously we’re going to people-watch during a travel delay or layover. What’s more interesting than trying to figure out whether that pair is a couple or not, or what occasion that group of friends is celebrating? But you can transform ordinary people-watching into something eternally meaningful by adding intercession. As you observe, pray for others. You can give passing strangers graces that truly impact their lives for good.
9. Practice sensus divina.
Along with lectio divina, we can also practice sensus divina: how do our senses reveal the spiritual? Be still and consider your senses. What sensory elements immediately stand out? What do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell or feel? Are you drawn to anything particular? How do these things remind you of spiritual realities or insights? Our bodies are sacraments—even in an airport or train station, they can reveal the spiritual.
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