These Genius Tips Make Sleeping On A Flight Comfier Than We Knew Possible
Avid travelers will know that sleeping on a plane is practically designed to be uncomfortable. No matter your seat choice, there's never any real room to stretch out, your neck is constantly jolting from side to side, and even the pillows and blankets provided by the airline feel like they might dissolve at your touch. Add coping with turbulence and the constant intercom wake-up calls on top of that, and you've got a recipe for a sleepless flight.
Luckily, TikTok has come to the rescue once again. In a recent video shared by mattress and pillow manufacturers Levitex, James Leinhardt, the company's sleep posture expert, shares his favorite tips on how to sleep comfortably and uninterrupted during long-haul flights — especially if you're flying economy.
From making sure to recline your seat to using what you already have to your advantage, getting comfy in economy class doesn't involve a bunch of gadgets or tricks. In fact, as Levitex puts it, it's actually very simple.
Comfort and position are key
When it comes to sleeping on a plane, Levitex's first tip is to always make sure you recline your seat before getting some shut-eye. By doing so, Leinhardt says, you'll distribute your body weight evenly and alleviate some of the pressure on your backside.
From there, you'll want to make sure you use something to hold your neck upright. However, per Leinhardt's advice, you don't want to use the "squishy, memory foam nonsense" neck pillows that still let your neck twist to the side. Instead, you'll want to use a sweater, towel, or blanket and wrap it around your neck. Then, secure the ends together with an elastic — and ta-da! No more dropping, flopping, and bobbing. Once this is done, add something to fill the gap between your lower back and the chair and you're all set for some sky-high slumber.
Lastly, Leinhardt advises against leaning forward and using your tray table to rest your head. Why? Well, not only is it one of the dirtiest spots on an airplane, but the position and pressure on your forearms will only irritate tissue, lead to compromised circulation, and cause back pain due to the angles at which you're bending. This ultimately means that your own body will wake you up from the tingling and overall discomfort.
Other in-flight sleep tips
Along with these tips by Levitex, the sleep experts at Casper also have plenty more tricks up their sleeves to help frequent flyers get some much-needed winks on long-haul flights. First, there's getting in the zone. This means slipping on an eye mask, playing some pink noise — also called "ambient noise" — like rainfall, crashing waves, or a river flowing through a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and even trying a touch of lavender aromatherapy to help your muscles relax. By creating a better atmosphere, it'll be a lot easier — and, let's face it, more enjoyable — to try and fall asleep even with the noise around you.
A great in-flight sleep experience also has a lot to do with what you eat and drink during your flight. Instead of reaching for sugar-filled snacks and greasy bites, choose potassium and magnesium-rich foods — bananas and nuts are both great options — to help you fall asleep and stay asleep for longer. Lastly, when it comes to your drinks, you'll want to try to stay away from caffeine and alcohol. Unfortunately, both of these can disrupt your sleep quality. Instead, do your best to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.