Whether youre flying for business, pleasure or obligation, chances are youwouldnt mind a little extra sleep.
Traveling takes you out of your usual environment and schedule, and often means extra-early mornings or late nights.
If youre taking a red eye, its going to run havoc with your sleep schedule.
Here are our favorites.
Instead, lean forward onto the tray table, especially if youre in the middle seat.
Lean forward and sleep on it like you did in elementary school at nap time, Laurie says.
Youll be a lot more comfortable and fall asleep faster.
Others advise against any sort of sleep aid.
Like most things, it comes down to trial and error and knowing what works best for you.
Get your temperature right
Some airplanes areair conditioned so muchthey could double as a meat locker.
Others seem to have no airflow at all and get really hot, really quickly.
Technically you might control that tiny air vent above your chair, but that might not do very much.
Hydrating is a good idea, but stick with water or herbal teas.
(Or at least halfway decent people this and dont just spread out without consideration for others.
But thats another article.)
Its hard to know what to do with your arms, in particular.
If yourein the middle seatand have access to both armrests, youre probably only working with one.
Even balling up a sweater or jacket could work, too.
Youll be wanting more, quicker, rather than a slow progression with that moment of drowsiness.
Use an eye mask
Planes are usually pretty bright.
The best way to cut the wake-promoting wavelengths is to put on an eye mask and simulate darkness.
Many are designed to work in any space you arepublic or not.
Find a few you like and download them ahead of time for easy access whenever you need.
Other white noise, like waves or even the sound of a fan can also be quite helpful.
Check your watch or phone and figure out what time it is at home, she advises.
If youre nearing or past your regular bedtime, then start cueing yourself for sleep.
If not, try a relaxing activity like reading instead.
Eat a carb-rich meal
Eating on a plane is another one of those personal-preference things.
Unlike the stuffed pillows, it takes up minimal space.
you’re free to underfill it before takeoff so that the pillow has more give.
According to Badzinski, she rarely, if ever uses her neck pillow around the back of her neck.
If she has a window seat, she uses it like a regular pillow.
According to Captain Tom Bunn, president ofSoar, Inc., definitely avoid these.
Attempting to navigate a bus system in a new city with a NyQuil hangover is not ideal.
If it happens, thats great.
