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Every experienced traveler wishes they could get more sleep on a plane. Unsurprisingly, being squished into a flying metal tube next to hundreds of others is not conducive to rest or relaxation! Thankfully, savvy frequent fliers are here to help; they’ve shared a handful of hacks to beat insomnia and ensure anyone can get the sleep they require and land at their destination ultimately refreshed.
1. Invest in Noise-Canceling Headphones
Many travelers cite excess noise as the primary reason they can’t relax or sleep while flying. Thankfully, noise-canceling headphones from companies like Bose, Sony, and Jabra can block out almost all unwanted noise on a plane. With the push of a button, noise from the plane’s engine, babies, and fellow travelers is virtually eliminated. While noise-canceling devices are expensive, savvy travelers unanimously believe they’re worth every penny!
2. Use an Eye Mask
Bringing an eye mask is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your chances of getting better sleep while flying. Inexpensive sleep masks work wonders and are found at every airport convenience store worldwide. Blocking out light is one of the most essential parts of sleep. After all, we’re used to all wearing masks over our mouths on a plane; we might as well use that same concept to get some rest!
3. Bring a Pillow
I’m consistently shocked at how many people board planes empty-handed. Bringing a pillow is one of the most common-sense solutions to combating sleepless flights. Think about it: Is anything more comfortable than the pillow you sleep with every evening? Bringing that piece of home with you on a flight could mean the difference between hours of unrest and a relaxing flight filled with countless dreams.
4. Fly With a Familiar Shoulder
Is there anything more off-putting than sitting uncomfortably shoulder-to-shoulder next to people you don’t know? Wouldn’t the sleeping-on-plane experience be infinitely better if you could put your head on someone’s shoulder and get much-needed shut-eye? If you travel with friends or family, this dream could be yours. Please take advantage of knowing the person next to you by using him or her as valuable relaxation real estate!
5. Consider Melatonin
While most people don’t like to use medication or any other “shortcut” to get better sleep while flying, it’s 2023, and I’m in no place to judge anyone for their actions! Therefore, you should absolutely try melatonin. This over-the-counter sleep aid works amazingly well for first-time users; it induces sleep suspiciously quickly and is a must-have in the carry-ons of millions of people who fly annually.
6. Use a Trtl Neck Pillow
According to countless fliers, using a quality neck pillow isn’t just recommended to get sufficient rest on a plane; it’s essentially required! Travelers swear by neck pillows manufactured by Trtl, and from the sounds of some of these reviews, these little guys seem like the real deal! “These neck pillows are the only ones that support the neck properly; other neck pillows don’t even come close,” reports one experienced flier.
7. Do Your Usual Nighttime Routine
Humans are creatures of habit. Therefore, the best way to get your body to prepare itself for sleep is to trick it into thinking you’re at home and getting ready for bed! Don’t be shy; nothing is embarrassing about heading to the airplane bathroom with a toothbrush and makeup remover. By going through your usual bedtime routine, you’ll increase the chances of being able to (eventually) fall asleep.
8. Avoid Red-Eye Flights
It’s funny; most people who complain about being unable to sleep on flights are the same ones who frequently take red-eye flights! Saving money is part of the flying experience, but by flying during times of the day you wouldn’t usually sleep, you won’t miss out on any rest. What’s more important: Saving a few dollars or getting the sleep you desperately need? I know what I’d choose.
9. Show Up Exhausted
I don’t care what you must do before your flight, but you should thoroughly exhaust yourself before arriving at the airport. Run a half marathon, play a few games of pick-up basketball, help your friends move, anything. Put your body through the wringer, and it will have no choice but to put you in an exhausted state of mind, leading to some seriously fantastic sleep once you’re in the air!
10. Meditate
Countless travelers advise meditating while flying, especially for those struggling to relax during international flights. Meditation can induce a zen-like state of semi-consciousness that often leads to full-on slumber. Of course, you need to take it seriously for the full effect; it’s more complicated than simply putting on a meditation app and hoping for the best.
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