Some lucky people fall asleep soundly as soon as they take their seats on the plane, while others struggle to nod off. When we have a medium-haul flight (from three to six hours) or especially a long-haul flight (six hours or more) ahead of us, getting some shuteye can make all the difference. How can we close our eyes and relax so that time flies by, so to speak? Check out the tips below
But first, We know that flying is by far the safest means of transport in existence; we have only to look at the statistics to prove it. And every day more and better measures are implemented to add safety to safety. However, the fear of flying is an atavistic fear that cannot be controlled by the person who has it… or can they? There are numerous ways to reduce it and even eliminate it. There are those who, by dint of flying, overcome it and those who need external help (for example, extensive therapy options including virtual reality).
Bring Along Your ´Sleep Kit´
One of the problems with resting on a flight is that we are surrounded by people. Some will want to sleep, but others will prefer to take advantage of part of the flight to talk, do work, or watch a movie. In other words, on a plane we are going to need a certain degree of isolation. An eye mask to block out the light from other seats, earplugs (or noise-cancelling headphones), a light blanket, and a neck pillow are going to be very helpful.
Listen to Relaxing Music
On various music platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music there are specific channels and playlists to promote and induce sleep, such as relxing classical or New Age piano music, as well as soothing ambient tracks. There are also people who find nature sounds helpful, such as birdsong, rain or ocean waves – and yes, there are hours-long sound clips of this sort of thing on these same platforms.
Meditate or Practise ‘Mindfulness’
El mindfulness es una técnica cada vez más popular. Consiste en focalizar toda nuestra atención en el momento presente, en lo que sentimos y pensamos, dejando fluir a nuestra mente y sin juzgar lo que ocurre en ella. Muchos especialistas en psicología y psiquiatría la utilizan como método para reducir el estrés, entre otros objetivos. Hay numerosas webs que te enseñan a practicarlo.
Download Reading Material or TV/Movies that You Like
Reading during a long flight can also help you sleep, just as it does at night in bed. If you carry an e-book, download several books so you don’t run out of things to read or so you can skip to another one if you don’t like the one you started. And without a doubt, watching a series that you like will disconnect you from the possible anxiety that flying can cause you: there’s nothing like focusing on something you’re passionate about to forget about everything else and invite sleep. Think about what they call a comfort movie, that is, that film or TV show that fills you with happiness when you watch it again: well, that’s exactly what you need to fly.
No Stimulants Before Boarding
Consider that a long flight means you leave one time zone and enter a very different one. Ideally you should try to adapt to the time zone of your destination, so as far as possible you should rest during the first leg of your trip if you arrive at night and at least during the last leg if you arrive during the day. So avoid coffee, tea or other drinks packed with caffeine, such as energy drinks. And, of course, no alcohol: although it may seem to promote sleep, it only initiates it and abruptly interrupts it one or two hours later: though classified as a depressant, it paradoxically also acts as a first-class stimulant.
Wear Comfortable Clothes
It may seem obvious, but avoid tight clothing or clothing that bothers you when sleeping. If what you need is to arrive at your destination well-groomed, you will surely find a bathroom in the airport facilities where you can change and get ready (carry a spare in your bag or backpack). But you are going to fly for many hours, try to make your clothes as similar as possible to pajamas in terms of comfort. Taking off your shoes is usually a good trick for many people: heat dissipates through the feet, a factor which makes it difficult to sleep.
Choose Your Seat
Selecting a seat is often essential when it comes to getting good rest. Although long-haul aircraft tend to be larger (the Airbus A350´s in our fleet have more space in all cabins), the truth is that everyone has a different favourite spot, be it a window seat, aisle seat, or emergency exit row (because there´s more room to stretch your legs). Whatever your preference, keep it in mind and choose it before flying.
Hydrate!
Keep water on hand; staying hydrated helps regulate our body temperature, so drinking water or herbal teas is essential to achieve this. Also remember that airplane air dries out the skin, so nourishing your face or hands, however subtle it may seem, also helps promote getting shuteye.