Everyone
can agree that traveling can be a stressful task. Whether you are flying a
short distance or flying to the other side of the world, the stress is all the
same. Short travels seem to be a little easier as they are over before you know
it, however the long flights seem to last for what seems an eternity. The
better prepared you are for a flight the better the experience. Here are some
tips on how to get some proper sleep on those long tedious journeys.
·
Plan
your journey carefully
When
planning your itinerary, it is smarter to opt for the non-stop flight. There is
nothing worse than getting comfortable and drifting off to a deep sleep and
being interrupted only to change planes. However if your flight plan doesn't have
a non-stop flight option, try choosing an option with the longest single leg as
this will give you ample resting time and you’ll have more uninterrupted time
to snooze.
When
choosing a seat, remember that the closer to the front of the plane you are the
quieter your flight will be. If you have miles saved up and you’re able to
splurge for the longest single leg flight, it would be wise to opt for the
business-class. If you aren't able to afford such luxury’s, a smarter option
will be choosing a window seat in the Emergency exit row, you won’t be disturbed
by neighbours and you will have all the room you need to stretch out.
·
Dress
for comfort
When
getting dressed and ready for your flight it is important to remember that you
are not entering a beauty pageant, you are about to sit in a seat for a lengthy
period and there is nothing worse than being in clothes you can’t truly relax
in. In your carry on it is a good idea to pack a pair of comfortable pyjama
bottoms and some woolly socks. When the plane has reached its cruising point
and you are able to get up and walk around you should use this opportunity to
brush your teeth, wash your face and climb into something a little more
comfortable. Once you return your seat please keep your seatbelt buckled at all
times.
·
Prepare
your body
Keep
hydrated during the day so you can avoid eating and drinking on the plane and
adding unnecessary bathroom breaks. Most people will use sleeping pills and
other prescription sleeping aids to help them get some rest, its recommended
that you consult a medical professional before jumping to these extremes. If
the sleeping pills don’t work people jump to alcohol as the next best thing,
however its probably the worst. Alcohol coupled with the dry air can cause you
to dehydrate and make you wake up with nightmares. Avoid caffeine and sugar;
rather drink sips of water but not too much as you’ll be running to the
restroom every hour.
If none of
these tips help and you still find you are struggling to sleep, you can always
rest. Switching on a movie will just waken you more; try closing your eyes with
some music on and lay back, more often than not you’ll land up getting some
sleep in. If you don’t get any sleep at all at least you’ll be more rested than
if you had been fully alert the entire flight.
If you need comfortable, self catering apartment to rest and recuperate from your long journey. Contact 808 Cartwright. For transport to and from Cape Town International Airport. Contact Airport Shuttle.
