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Tips for Sleeping on a Plane

Tips for Sleeping on a Plane

Good news: you’re excited to book your dream vacation. Bad news: you’re not immune to hassles of air travel including epically long flights, loud passengers, cramped seats, and sunlight pouring in at 35,000 feet.

While a few lucky folks have the superpowers to sleep curled up like a pretzel in economy class, the rest of us need expert strategies to snooze in the skies restfully. Lack of rest can lead to exhaustion and several days of playing catch-up once you arrive at your destination. To help you get more kip, here are tips for sleeping on a plane.

Invest in a Good Eye Mask

Wearing a good eye mask to sleep will have you thinking of your grandma and her nightgown. The mask effectively blocks out light, making it easier for you to disconnect from your surroundings and imagine you are at home, sleeping in the dark as usual.

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When shopping for an eye mask, pay attention to the nose region because that’s where light creeps in through the gaps. Go for a quality, thick, and comfortable mask that blocks the light completely.

Bring Some Comfort Items

Remember your beloved teddy bear as a kid? Think the adult version of this to realize the benefits of better sleep. If on a long-haul flight, you can bring pajamas to change into—you’re likely to pass out easily in your usual jammies than in a business suit. Besides, always have good music that will help you relax and wear a pair of warm socks. If you hate wearing socks to sleep or are prone to swelling, compression socks will keep those concerns in check and prevent blood clots.

Secure Your Pillows and Blankets

There never seem to be enough pillows and blankets to go around. If there isn’t a set of these supplies in your seat, stake your claim immediately from the flight attendant.

Better yet, bring your own. The challenge of relying on the blankets supplied in the plane is some of them may not be cleaned after being used by a previous traveler. So pack a traveling blanket as well as neck pillow that allow you to recreate your sleeping style in the limited space. You can get a quality travel pillow design that is easy to carry on-the-go to make your journey more relaxing and comfortable.

Try Natural Supplements

If you’re traveling alone, be careful about using sleep medicine unless you know what impact it has on your body. Most OTC sleeping pills contain antihistamines that make them longer-acting and can leave you feeling groggy. A healthier alternative to sleeping pills is melatonin and magnesium supplements. Besides helping those with fear of flying, they are safe and helpful for relaxation and fighting muscle stiffness.

Buckle Over Your Blanket

What’s worse than being woken up in the middle of your dream by a flight attendant who just need to check if you’ve buckled your seatbelt? Falling asleep amid 200 travelers and 38,000 feet up in the air is quite a hassle and the main reason we’re having this discussion. To have any disturbance soon after you drift off is a huge annoyance, which can be avoided by a simple measure – buckle your seat belt over your blanket.

With these tips, you’ll be in the air and relaxed in no time – ready to take on your next adventure when you land. Safe travels! 

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