Air travel these days is tough for everybody, but it's especially challenging for germaphobes like me. I travel quite a bit for business and I used to stress out trying to avoid germs. Airports and planes are simply swarming with people and, let's face it, people are disgusting!  In highly populated environments like these, I assume a certain percentage of people are sick and most of them don't think twice about what they touch or leave behind. And apparently, most healthy people are more than happy to assist disgusting microorganisms in their quest to reach every possible surface. Here are my top five tips to reduce germ-induced air travel anxiety.

Tip #1. Avoid contact whenever possible

Most of the germs you encounter while traveling are not airborne. We spread them by touching surfaces that others have touched. Once they're on your hands, it won't be long before those little suckers are inside your body battling it out with your immune system. The best way to avoid this is not to touch anything.

Airports are loaded with things you shouldn't touch, so I highly recommend standing or walking around in the airport rather than sitting down. It's not only a healthier choice (since you'll be sitting on a plane for hours), but it will keep you away from people's germs. 

If you must sit, try to find a seat away from the germ-laden hordes and settle in a less congested area. Look for people who are coughing or grasping tissues and avoid them like the plague. Also try to avoid touching the arm rests of your chair as people tend to grab hold of them when sitting down even if they've just coughed, sneezed, or visited the restroom.  

Tip #2. Beware of restrooms  

Speaking of restrooms, they can be the most germ laden place of all. Luckily most airport restrooms these days have touch-free sinks, soap dispensers, and paper towel machines. But some don't. And some have entry doors that have to be pulled to open from the inside (ironically, this is especially true in the premier clubs). Grabbing that handle after someone who didn't wash their hands will negate any careful cleaning you've done. Always use a paper towel for restroom door handles and any manual sink controls. If there's a trash can near the entry door, I like to make a free throw shot with the towel on my way out after opening the door. This has nothing to do with being a germaphobe, but I thought you might like to know why there are often balled up paper towels on the floor next to airport restroom trash cans.  

Airplane restrooms are another story. Avoid them whenever possible. They're small and cramped, cleaned only between flights, and everything is manual. They're basically a germ's equivalent of the grotto at the Playboy mansion. The sinks are the worst design ever! The faucets only dispense water for a few seconds so you have to turn or press the handle multiple times while washing your hands. This pretty much defeats the purpose of washing, doesn't it? Plus, opening the door latch means your hands are covered with whatever the last one hundred or so people didn't wash off before leaving the compartment. If you must use the restroom on a plane, go early in the flight when fewer people have occupied it. Also, use the paper towel trick to avoid touching anything.  

Tip #3. Clean your hands often

Of course, there are things in airports and planes you just can't avoid touching. In these situations, always disinfect afterward. Carry a good supply of hand sanitizer and wipes whenever you travel. That way, if you must touch something like a handrail, manual restroom controls, or God forbid an airplane restroom door handle, you can obliterate any microbes you may have picked up along the way. In fact, because of the inherent disgustingness (is that a word?) of airplane restrooms, I recommend just skipping the sink altogether and cleaning your hands when you get back to your seat.

Tip #4. Clean everything around you

Clorox "To Go" wipes (or other similar products) are great for disinfecting pretty much any surface. I call them a traveling germaphobe's best friend. If you must sit down in the airport, wipe the arm rests off just in case. When you get seated on your plane, wipe down the arm rests, tray table, media controls and anything else you might touch during your flight. Sure, people will laugh and sneer at you but that's okay. You'll get the last laugh when you're back home nice and healthy and they're fighting a cold, the flu, a stomach bug, or worse. Or at least you can hope!  

Tip #5. Don't touch your face

Once you touch any surface and pickup whatever parasite might be living there, it won't be long before you scratch your nose, or rub your eyes or the corner of your mouth and introduce them to your immune system. According to studies, we humans touch our faces unconsciously 3-4 times per hour. That means the average person will touch his or her face more than a dozen times during a typical trip. That's plenty of opportunity for you to be invaded by unwanted pathogens.   

But if touching your face is involuntary, how can you avoid it? The answer is, with practice. If you consciously pay attention to how many times you touch your face and practice intercepting yourself (by scratching with your sleeve instead of your hand for example), you'll find it's not that hard to minimize the number of accidental touches. Plus, if you follow my advice above about cleaning the surfaces around you and your hands, an occasional face-touch might be perfectly harmless.  

So if you're a germaphobe like me or if you just want to reduce your chances of getting sick while on the road, try these simple strategies and enjoy healthier and happier travels!