Some people can’t imagine flying without a book. Many others download movies, web series and music playlists to stay entertained for the hours they spend in the sky. Many also carry their skincare essentials to take care of their skin while flying. And then, there’s always something to eat during the flight.

Basically, the longer the flight, the more important these preparations are to keep busy. Right? Ummm… no! People are not doing anything except the usual flight rituals like reading books, listening to music, watching shows or reading magazines during the flight and are just immersed in their thoughts and contemplation. This trend, which is very popular in the West and on TikTok, is called Rowdogging a Flight.

What is Rowdogging in flight?

Roadlogging is a self-imposed challenge in which you spend the entire flight without any entertainment or distractions. That means no music, no phones, no screens, no books or magazines, no food, no water and no sleep. It’s just you and your thoughts and, at most, the in-flight map.

Rowdogging, a term notorious for having unprotected sex, is also used to mean jumping headlong into a situation without preparation or protection. In air travel, it means boarding a plane without the usual preparations or comforts that most travelers consider necessary.

Flying without distractions may seem impossible, especially in a time when we’re almost constantly stimulated (thanks to our phones). However, TikTokers, predominantly men, are taking on the challenge and posting about their experiences rowlogging on long flights—7 hours, 8 hours, and even 11 hours.

This also means that you should refuse complimentary food and beverages and ignore in-flight entertainment options, unless you are on a low-cost airline operating long-haul flights such as IndiGo, Ryan Air and Spirit Airlines. It may be easy to follow this trend on an Air Arabia flight, as they also do not offer complimentary water.

Anyway. While many find this trend meditative, for others it’s just a challenge. However, mental health experts call road-logging on long flights a dangerous trend, especially for those who suffer from anxiety problems.

Potential profit, risky loss

Abshy Sam, a Mumbai-based counselling psychologist, says, “Sitting with your thoughts and not indulging in any kind of distraction is something we do in therapy. It can help us understand what the emotions are trying to tell us. But if you do this for 7-8 hours on a flight, it’s not really a good option.”

“There are two kinds of people – one, who may find it beneficial because sitting with their thoughts can help them understand emotions and gain clarity. And the other are people who are or have previously experienced anxiety, over-thinking or some kind of trauma. This trend may backfire for them,” she adds.

Meanwhile, Dr Neerja Agarwal, a psychologist and co-founder of mental health platform Emoniids, calls it an extreme approach to air travel that can be both risky and beneficial.

She adds, “It can increase self-awareness, facilitate deeper introspection, and provide a unique opportunity for extended problem-solving and reflection. For some people, it can also serve as a form of deeper mindfulness practice, potentially leading to long-term reductions in stress and anxiety.”

Absi Sam agrees, “This time can be used to introspect, reflect on how and what you are doing, think about future plans and create a vision board in your mind. Secondly, being with your thoughts can also help you be more empathetic to yourself and your emotions.”

may cause anxiety attacks

However, there are downsides. Despite the potential benefits, mental health experts don’t recommend trying road-logging flights for longer than 2 hours. Sitting on road-logging flights for long periods of time can lead to repetitive thinking, especially if you haven’t developed coping mechanisms to help you handle the constant, vicious cycle of thoughts. Experts say it can be dangerous and stimulating, leading to anxiety and panic attacks.

“It’s good to sit with your thoughts, but not for long periods of time. It can cause a lot of anxiety. If you’re on a 7-8 hour flight and you don’t have anything to keep yourself occupied, it can be very difficult. People who experience panic attacks or have had panic attacks, or who have a lot of traumatic thoughts, may have panic attacks or anxiety attacks on air travel. Without much help, you may feel like you’re going numb or shutting down. So it’s not exactly the best practice,” explains Absey.

Experts also believe that the complete absence of external stimuli can increase feelings of claustrophobia and restlessness, resulting in both physical and psychological distress.

Some more negative things

Another problematic aspect of this trend is the avoidance of drinking water. While many people deliberately avoid eating on flights due to gastric problems, drinking water is a must. Cabin air is very dry and can be dehydrating. Similarly, not having to go to the toilet to relax on a long-haul flight is worrying.

Dr. Agarwal says, “Lack of sleep, food, and water during long flights can have a detrimental effect on overall health. While brief periods of introspection can be valuable, maintaining such an intense practice throughout the entire long journey may prove excessive and potentially harmful for many individuals.”

Why not take a limited approach to this trend?

There are very few occasions when one can be with oneself, and one of them is during a flight (if in-flight Wi-Fi is not available). This does not involve attending calls or answering emails. It is a great idea to use this as an opportunity to introspect and reflect on your thoughts, but doing this as a challenge on a long flight can potentially wreak havoc on your mental health.

Mental health experts suggest taking a more balanced approach, which includes taking quiet moments as well as engaging in gentle, mindful activities.

“There should not be excess of anything, and the same applies to our thoughts. Instead, be with yourself and your thoughts, but at the same time, include listening to music, reading books, and sleeping for some time,” suggests Mumbai-based therapist and counsellor Dr Roshan Mansukhani.

So, it is okay to do nothing for an hour during the flight, but we cannot say the same for the entire journey, which lasts for 7-8 hours or more.