Sleep More Comfortably on a Plane With These Tips

Between waking up early to catch your flight, going through baggage and security, and waiting for layovers, flying can be exhausting. If you’re used to flying business class, you know how uncomfortable airplane seats are. It’s not just that the seats aren’t ideal for sleeping, usually, there are crying babies on the plane, the flight attendant is trying to get past you with their carts, or the person sitting next to you is getting up to use the bathroom every 30 minutes. So, how can you get a restful sleep with all these distractions?

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Next stop – Jamaica with my best friend. 🇯🇲✈️ – Everybody has a dream, but most are too scared to chase it. 💭 – So our message to you today is, whatever you truly dream of doing with your life – Go do it now! – It sounds so simple, and it really is… – We started this travel lifestyle like everybody else. We worked in restaurants and childcare jobs until we had enough money up saved for a decent trip through Asia. 🍜 – We scrimped and saved to make that money go as far as it possibly could, all because we didn’t want to have to go home. We volunteered at workaway’s, we ate local, we stayed in £1 hostels when our friends were staying in £5 ones. And we weren’t ashamed. 🤷🏼‍♀️ We loved that we were chasing a dream and determined to make our ‘thing’ work. 😍 I guess what we’re trying to say is that everything starts from somewhere! 🤙🏼 – Life is too damn short to live in a mediocre way. If you want something bad enough, start working towards it now. Stop saying ‘I’ll do this when I have more money.’ or ‘I’ll start that when I’m more settled.’ Start it now! – It doesn’t matter if you’re 17 or 50, set your alarm and wake up tomorrow with a purpose. A purpose to take steps towards your dream, no matter what it is. 🙌🏼 – Now let’s go smash some Jamaica content! 😍💛 – #gatwick #planeselfie #travelcouple #couplegoals #jamaica #gatwickairport #virginatlantic #airport #aviation #airplaneselfie #selfie #traveltogether

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Stretch Before Boarding

Find a quiet spot near the gate and stretch your legs, arms, and back. If you’re not sure what to do, there are YouTube videos with pre-flight stretching routines.

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𝓣𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰? Try a Fig 4 Stretch or a Modified Runner’s Stretch. Even though I’m at the airport, these can easily be done at work or anywhere you can find a seat or stable surface to rest your knee on. 🌀 Fig 4: place one leg over the other so the ankle is resting on the opposite thigh, created a “4.” Sit up tall, avoiding rounding of the spine. Push the crossed leg downward until a stretch is felt in and around that respective hip. Hold for 1 min and perform on both sides. 🌀Modified Runner’s: place your knee on a low and stable surface and shift your weight forward onto the front leg, as if lunging forward. Avoid arching your back and keep your pelvis slightly tucked to exaggerate the stretch felt across the front of your hip and thigh. The stretch should be felt on the knee that’s resting on the low surface. Hold for 1 min and perform on both sides. 🔗 𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓲𝓼/𝓹𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓲𝓬 𝓯𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓻? Keeping your hips mobile maximizes range of motion during movements. The tighter the hips, the more likely your pelvis bones get pulled with it, often contributing to pelvic pain. Lastly, your hip flexors connect your hips to your lumbar spine and restrictions there can limit the mobility and elasticity of your bladder! #pelvicPT #travelingPT #tightness #stretching #alldayeveryday #choosePT #airportstretches #hipstretches #pelvicpain

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Close Your Eyes

If you can’t sleep, at least close your eyes. Keeping your eyes closed will decrease your stress and help you feel more relaxed.

Request a Window Seat

Everyone knows that the window seat is ideal for sleeping on a flight. You don’t have to worry about people asking you to get up so they can use the bathroom and you have a convenient spot to rest your head.

Take a Sleep Aid

Instead of using prescription sleep meds, use a natural remedy like magnesium to catch a few hours of sleep. Magnesium regulates melatonin, a natural sleep hormone, and it relaxes your muscles, making it easier to catch some sleep.

Buy Sleep Accessories

There are so many sleep accessories on the market, so try using a neck pillow, a blanket or scarf, eye masks, or noise-canceling headphones. Also, try compression socks or pants, which will help improve your blood circulation and your sleep.

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Jenn S
Jenn's dream has always been to be a star on Broadway. Self-described theatre nerd; she grew up going to see all the musicals with my older sister. Her favorites are Hairspray, Wicked, and Kinky Boots. She even named her cats Tracey Turnblad and Link Larkin!