How I Survived 29 Hours On A Plane

I recently returned from a break in the US. The journey home was 6 hours from New York to LA. 15.5 hours from LA to Melbourne, then 1 hour from Melbourne to Adelaide. With layover time the journey was 29 hours. This is an incredible period of time to be largely stuck in one position. As I looked around me (avid people watcher), I noticed everyone tackling the journey a little bit differently. Some decided to hit the alcoholic drinks hard, to then find the hangover set in mid-flight. Some watched their little screen unbroken the entire journey. Some drugged up and tried to sleep (sedated) the entire flight.

Firstly, let me say…..no matter what you do, 29 hours of travel is taxing. But there are a few things that can make the journey more enjoyable, comfortable, and easier to recover from (in no particular order):

• Ok, this one is a luxury item. If you have access to an airline lounge, make use of this in each airport along the way. Comfortable seating, higher quality food, shower facilities, free wi-fi and typically good coffee. If you do not have access to a lounge, many of the international airports will have public access lounges that you pay to enter. This may cost $40 – $100 as a guide. But, if you have 2, 3, 4 hour layover, it quickly pays for itself.
•  On the topic of food. If I am travelling economy I typically fast through each of the travel legs, choosing to eat in the lounge instead. The quality of airline food is often questionable at best. I prefer to keep up my fluids with water, soda water or black coffee and eat once I land in the transit airport. If however I am fortunate enough to be at the pointy end, I will eat the food. I enjoy the experience of this, and the quality is typically much higher than economy. If I am in economy and I do want to eat, I will pack a protein powder sachet or protein bar. This will be sufficient to get me to the next stop.
• Stay hydrated. Airplane cabins have huge air reticulation systems (air conditioners). They are incredibly dehydrating. Keep your fluids up with lots of water. Don’t be afraid to ding that bell and have the staff bring you more water.
• Begin the adjustment to your final destinations time zone when you are travelling. This will never be perfect, but the sooner you get your body prepared for the shift in time zone the better. I will stay awake for the period of the flight that correlates back to daytime in the final destination and sleep when it is nighttime. Jet lag is the real deal!
• So…..jet lag. If you can perfect this, you are ahead of the game. I will take 5mg (up to 10mg) of melatonin on a flight to help with getting me into the sleep pattern of the final destination. I really struggle with sleeping on a plane (again, easier at the pointy end of the plane) and sleep is always my weakness. Other ways of helping get to sleep on a flight is to wear blue light blocking glasses to block out the junk light from the cabin and other peoples screens. Also, avoid alcohol. Just because you are traveling at 40,000 feet does not mean the alcohol impacts you any differently. When you land at your destination (ideally), get your shoes off and get direct contact with the earth. This is called earthing or grounding. It helps sync your circadian rhythm with that of the new destination. Also, move! Unless it is the middle of the night…..get active. Swim, run or gym.
• Dress warm and comfortable. It’s not a fashion contest! I don’t dress as if I have been dragged through a bush backwards, but I dress comfortable and warm.

I love to travel and yes, if you can travel business class the experience is vastly different, however, 29 hours of travel is 29 hours of travel. To truly be in peak condition once you arrive at your destination, it takes some preparation and commitment from you. However, the outcome is worth this investment.