1) Chose the right seat. Window seats are best for sleeping because you have a place to lean against. Equally important is that you don’t have to move to allow other passengers past. Aisle seats allow a little more room, but you’ll need to keep yourself out of the aisle to allow people and the beverage cart to pass by.
2) Get a good travel pillow. There are lots of different travel pillows on the market; each with their own pros and cons. I prefer inflatable pillows because they don’t take up a lot of space and are easy to transport. You might benefit from a “J” shaped pillow. Unlike a traditional U-shaped pillow J pillows support your chin and the side of your head.
3) Buckle your belt. Make sure your seat belt is fastened on the outside of your clothing and blankets. This allows the flight attendants to see your seat belt is secured so they won’t have to wake you if there is turbulence.
4) Cover your eyes. Lights on the airplane can be turned off and on numerous times. To prevent yourself from being woken up by sudden light changes, invest in an eye mask.
5) Keep noise out. Use ear plugs or ear buds with music to keep the noise out. This will help you fall asleep and stay asleep through the hum of the aircraft and the noise of your neighbors.
6) Wear comfortable clothes. Dress in loose clothing that is breathable and flexible. Wearing clothing that is constricting makes it hard to get and stay comfortable when you’re in tight spaces.
7) Medication. Some people are strongly against using medication to fall asleep while traveling. I say, it’s up to each person to determine if this is the route they want to take. For me, taking a Tylenol PM is enough to get me to fall asleep and stay asleep. For others, they need something stronger like a sleeping pill or muscle relaxant. I warn against stronger medication because it can make you really out of it. When you’re traveling you need to be able to react quickly to uncertain circumstances. That can be easier said than done to do when you’re medicated!
8) Fly at the right times. Personally, I love red-eye flights. I try to make sure that my longest journey leaves in the late evening so I can fall asleep on the plane at a time when I’m naturally sleepy. Of course, it’s not always possible to do this. If you find yourself on a long flight during the day, you might need to employ some other tricks to catch some zzz’s.
9) Make yourself sleepy. When you’re at home, what makes you tired? For me, watching television or reading make me tired. So when I’m on a plane, even if I don’t feel like it, I try to make myself stay awake for the in-flight movie or to read a few chapters in a book. Makes my eye lids heavy!
10) Free your feet. Move your carry-ons to the overhead bin to give yourself some more room to stretch out. I also bring along travel slippers so my feet are comfortable and not constricted. You can also wear compression socks to keep the blood in your legs flowing. This is especially important if you are sleeping on a long flight and not getting up to walk around and stretch.
