8 Tips on How to Fall Asleep on a Plane in Economy Class
Thing is, while some people find it super easy to fall asleep anywhere, [including on a plane in economy class,] the majority struggle and need all the help they can get to enjoy a restful sleep, especially on long-haul flights.
There are a dozen reasons why falling asleep on a plane is a challenge. When you factor in - noise from video games/movies, not enough legroom, and distractions from overly active kids - it’s not that hard to see why falling asleep on a plane can seem like a big hurdle to overcome.
When on a long-haul flight, it’s only natural to want to sleep through the trip and wake up at your destination. Even pilots get tempted every once in a while - to steal some shut-eye time. Imagine that!
Well, these 8 tips will help you sleep better the next time you get on a plane…
Tip #1: Choose the window seat
Some people avoid the window seat because they don’t want to look down and lose their cool. But, if you’re looking to sleep better on your next flight, a window seat will give you something to lean on, get you out of the way of other passengers who move around a lot, and even give you some control over how much light comes in through the window.
Tip #2: Buckle over your blanket
If you use a seatbelt and then cover yourself with a blanket, chances are a flight attendant might assume you don’t have your seatbelt on and may wake you up just to make sure. Imagine that happening right in the middle of a peaceful, dreamy sleep. Unpleasant, right? Exactly!
Tip #3: Use noise-canceling headphones
There are a couple of things queuing up to prevent you from falling asleep on a plane - the major one being noise distractions. Drowning out the noise from airplane engines, chatty passengers, and screaming children is a lot easier if you come along with a pair of high-quality, noise-canceling headphones.
Tip #4: Try natural supplements
Supplements like melatonin and magnesium help you relax and relieve muscle stiffness, paving the way for a peaceful, restful sleep on that long-haul flight. Avoid prescription sleep pills as they may do more harm than good to your body.
Tip #5: Cut-down on your carry-ons
Some passengers bring on board more than one carry-on bag. This excess baggage may end up under their feet, limiting legroom space and making it harder to sleep. Stick to in-flight essentials like headphones, a bottle of water, sleeping masks -- and you should be fine.
Tip #6: Pass on the caffeine
Right, avoid the temptation to have a cup of coffee or soda before boarding a plane. And while onboard, stick to water and juice and pass on every ‘caffeine offers’ from flight attendants.
Tip #7: Dress the part
Just as you’d put on business attire when you’re off to a business meeting, consider bringing pajamas to change into, especially on a long-haul flight. Why? You’re more likely to fall asleep on a plane in your favorite jammies than a business suit, right? Absolutely!
Tip #8: Ask for blankets and pillows ASAP
There never seems to be enough blankets and pillows to go round in economy class. What to do? Board early and beat others to it, period. These must-have ‘travel tools’ will help you feel toasty warm and set the stage for a good night’s sleep -- even during the day!
There you go!
Getting to your destination fully recharged and ready to go doesn’t happen by accident. Actually, it takes putting to practice a few tricks like those outlined above.
Would you like more tips on how to sleep better on a plane? Great! Hear it firsthand from CEO Jeremy in this wellness video, right here - and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button. Want to share your own ‘sleep recipe’ so others can learn and sleep better on their next flight? Tag us @nestednaturals and use hashtag #SleepWakeThrive -- we’d love to hear from you!
