With summer fast approaching, it’s time to pack those suitcases and get ready for a jolly holiday. But how can you make the most of your journey?
We’ve got some simple hacks for sleeping on a plane to help you avoid jet lag and arrive at your destination refreshed and raring to go...
How to Sleep Better on a Plane
Lack of legroom, lights blaring from hundreds of different screens, people climbing over you to go to the toilet; are just some of the challenges sleepy travellers face while onboard a plane.
It sounds like a nightmare, but with our top tips, you’ll sleep like a dream.
1. Pack a neck pillow
When embarking on a long-haul flight, make sure you have a neck or travel pillow in your arsenal. Why? With comfort and support all rolled into one, this simple travel accessory can help you to fall asleep fast and wake up refreshed.
We recommend a memory foam pillow for the most comfort.
2. Cut down on carry-on luggage
The more luggage you bring onto the plane with you, the greater the chance that some of it will end up under your feet. As if planes weren’t cramped enough, luggage restricting your legroom is really not conducive to a restful sleep. So, what can you do? To overcome this issue, try to fit all of your travel essentials in a single bag, limiting the amount of carry-on luggage you bring on board.
3. Sort Your Sleep Schedule
If you’re travelling across time zones, it can be worth altering your sleep schedule a few days before travelling to get your body used to the time difference.
4. Make flight attendants aware
Eyelids feeling heavy? Struggling to hold back the yawns? Sounds like you’re going to drift off to sleep any minute now. If you don’t want to be woken up every time the snack cart comes past or the seat belt sign comes on, it’s time to put up the metaphorical ‘do not disturb’ sign.
The best way to ensure your sleep isn’t disturbed is to buckle up (make sure your belt is fastened over your blanket) and notify the flight attendants that you’re about to snuggle down and get some shut-eye.
5. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol
According to the National Sleep Foundation, one of the best ways to sleep on a plane is to stay hydrated. While cruising through the clouds at 35,000 feet, the humidity onboard is low, causing you to feel dehydrated and interfering with your sleep. To keep your body sleep ready, keep yourself hydrated by sipping water regularly throughout the flight.
Although tempting, it’s wise to avoid an alcoholic drink that can dehydrate you further.
6. Lights out
In addition to their association with medical issues such as depression, obesity, breast and prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease, artificial lights are known to affect our sleep. To ensure a good few hours of kip on a plane abundant with electronic gadgets, put on your best flying friend, the eye mask.
Cheap and cheerful, eye masks are known to be one of the most effective sleeping aids, blocking out light, elevating the body’s levels of melatonin (the hormone responsible for controlling sleep) and promoting sleep.
7. Shotgun a window seat
OK, so the principles of ‘shotgun’ don’t apply to planes, but you get our drift. When reserving your seat on a long-haul flight, book yourself one near the window! Why? There are two main reasons why sitting in the window seat is awesome.
Firstly, it means you can lean against and rest your head upon the side of the plane (much better than trying to sleep sitting upright!) and secondly, it means no more disruptions when your neighbour in the middle seat fancies getting up! You will also avoid the disturbances of people walking up and down that you get with an aisle seat. Win, win!
If you can, avoid seats near the toilets or back of the plane so you’re not disturbed by other passengers or cabin crew.
8. Listen to Something Soothing
Whether it’s a relaxing sleep podcast, gentle music or a guided meditation, listening to something soothing can help to block out all the background noise and help you drift off into slumber.
9. Wear Comfortable Clothing
There’s nothing worse than too-tight jeans digging in when you’re trying to rest. Opt for relaxed-fit clothing in comfortable fabrics such as cotton to maximise your comfort.
It’s also worth bringing fluffy socks and a scarf that you can pop on mid-flight, as aeroplanes tend to be on the chilly side.
10. Wear a Soft Mask
Make sure your face covering fits well and isn’t scratchy so it doesn’t prevent you from settling down and getting some sleep.
Best Products for Sleeping on a Plane
Don’t get on the plane without some essential air travel accessories! We recommend the following;
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- Or earplugs
- Eye mask
- Neck or travel pillow
- Cosy socks and a jumper
- Soothing music or podcast
- Comfortable face covering
Best Position to Sleep on a Plane
What’s the best way to sleep on an airplane? You have a few different options to choose from when it comes to sleeping positions.
- If you manage to bag a window seat, leaning against the wall with a pillow tucked under your head or chin can help you get comfortable.
- If you’re stuck in the middle seat, recline your seat, pop on a neck pillow, raise the armrests and add a blanket to get some rest.
We hope this advice on how to sleep comfortably on an airplane has been helpful. We’re dedicated to sharing tips and tricks on all things sleep and providing families across the UK with luxuriously soft memory foam mattresses.
Discover a great night’s sleep - buy a memory foam mattress online here.
