How to sleep better on an airplane

Sleeping on an airplane is mission impossible for a lot of people. With children crying all the time, the weird feeling in your stomach while the plane is taking off and sudden turbulence, how can you possibly get relaxed enough to dose off?

Luckily, there are a couple of proven methods that work for most people. Try them out, you might be surprised by the end results. Naturally, if you happen to have a personal remedy that works, feel free to share it in the comment section below. For now, let’s take a look at some of the things that have been proven effective in practice.

Try listening to some soothing music

There’s nothing better than some smooth jazz to ease the tension of everyday life. The same principle can be applied to people who are feeling stressed due to traveling on an airplane. Furthermore, things can sometimes take an unsuspecting turn, as some individuals might find that the upbeat rock music is the cure which makes the anxiety go away.

Additionally, a good pair of headphones can separate you from the environment, which can be extremely useful on those long trips that last for a couple of hours. Can you imagine being stuck next to a young couple whose baby won’t stop crying during the entire duration of the trip? If you get yourself a pair of buds that have a noise-cancellation option, you won’t have to worry about this ever again.

Book an evening flight

This is especially important in case you’re traveling through different time zones. Sleeping on a plane is not only a great way to pass the time, but it also gives you a chance to prepare your body for a different schedule than the one you’re already used to.

However, it can be really tough to fall asleep during the daytime, when the sunbeams are hitting you square in the face. Some people try to find salvation with a help of different sleeping aids, such as ear plugs and masks, but these things are only effective to a point. To this day, nothing beats the good old natural ways.

Avoid the booze and coffee

Having a drink to calm your nerves ahead of the trip might seem like a great idea at first, but that myth has been busted time and time again. At the end of the day, it might even damage your chances to fall asleep, but it drastically increases the chances of rude interactions with your fellow passengers.

When it comes to coffee, due to caffeine content it has, it increases your awareness, thus keeping you awake no matter the circumstances. In either case, it’s probably best to have your cup just after you land.

Economy is not always the way to go

While it’s great to save a couple bucks on your flight, it’s also safe to say that economy is not suited for all people. The airlines are trying to cram as many seats as possible in an already tight space, thus leaving the passengers with bare minimum leg and elbow room.

It goes without saying that sleeping under these conditions can be extremely difficult. By upgrading your seats, you will be privileged to some additional space, which will make the whole situation that much more bearable. Even then, we would advise you to skip out on hand luggage, as this significantly reduces the leg room you’re probably lacking in the first place. Once again, minimalism proves to be the perfect solution.

Try to book a window seat

We know, these are usually the first ones to go on any flight, but it’s for a good reason. Not only that they give you a chance to enjoy the scenery, but these seats usually offer some additional elbow room. Furthermore, you can always rest your head against the wall, thus giving you a better chance to fall asleep.

Still, the best reason why window seats rule is the fact that you won’t have to constantly deal with people walking by, nor will you have to get up every five minutes to let the others pass through. Trust us, these things might seem insignificant at first, but they do add up quickly.