Has the fear of jet lag after a long flight have you putting off the vacation you’ve been dreaming about?
Of course you know I’m going to remind you that the pro’s of seeing the World far outweigh the con’s of flying! However, I also wanted to share these tips that may help convince you:
10 tips to making long flights more bearable
#1 – now is the time to pack those cool travel accessories that you really don’t need to lug around for short hops. Specifically the eye mask and the neck pillow (preferably inflatable for space saving, but the J-Pillow is highly recommended by several of my colleagues)
#2 – start your preparation a few days early by trying to acclimate yourself to the timezone you’ll visit – certainly easier said than done for some destinations. Australia for example is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. However those traveling from the East Coast of the US to Europe will find the time change much more manageable.
#3 – keep away from caffeine and alcohol. You’re better off sticking to water to stay hydrated. We all know how dehydrated we can get on a short flight – it’s really important to stay hydrated on long haul flights as well. I like to take along an empty water bottle to fill once I get on the plane. This way I don’t have to rely on the tiny cups of water being refilled each time the attendant is walking by.
#4 – drinking all that water pays off when it’s time to wander down the aisle to the restroom. Take advantage of the “fasten seatbelt” sign being turned off and make a few slow laps around the aisles to get some exercise.
#5 – when you do get stuck in your seat for long periods of time, it’s important to move around and stretch as often as you can. Do ankle rotations, neck rolls, look over each shoulder, anything you can do to keep from getting stiff. Did you see the Slaydon’s Travel Facebook post last week about yoga poses you can practice in-flight?
#6 – now is the time to binge watch those TV shows your friends have been raving about, or the newest movie releases that you’ve been too busy to catch. You’ll have plenty of time on even a cross country flight to catch more than a few hours worth of entertainment.
#7- once you board the plane go ahead and change your watch to the local time in your destination
#8 – when it gets to be your normal bedtime in your destination, that’s a good time to use the cool accessories we talked about in tip #1 and try to get some rest. Make sure you stick with your normal bedtime routine as well, such as getting up to brush your teeth, wash your face, etc. This helps trigger your body into it’s normal routine. It also helps to have children change into their favorite pair of PJ’s just before trying to nod off.
#9 – pack a pashmina, light blanket or a sweater in your carry on. We all know how cold airplanes can get at times.
#10 – bring along a few of your favorite tea bags, especially those that you find help you sleep, calm your stomach or perhaps even give you that morning jolt, although remember tip #3 about staying away from caffeine!
Hopefully you were able to get a few nuggets to add to the “pro” column when considering that next trip.When you’re ready to start planning your next experience, I would love to help. Click here to set up your appointment and we can get started today!
Want to read more content like this? Sign up here: