You’re 3 Steps Away from a Restful Red-Eye If You Follow These Tips

Exploring a new destination is a fun-filled adventure, but getting there? Not so much. The typically less-than-thrilling journey feels even more taxing when you’re boarding a red-eye flight. If you’re crossing into a new time zone, sleep is your secret weapon for combatting jetlag, but how is anyone supposed to get some rest when they’re crammed in the middle seat? 

Fear not, fellow traveler: We’ve asked a few frequent flyers how they handle overnight flights. From making small tweaks to your airport routine to adding a few in-flight essentials, these pointers will help make getting to your destination an enjoyable, restful endeavor.

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1. Keep Calm and Carry On 

From traipsing through TSA to finding your gate, moving through the airport can feel like a pulse-pumping, stress-inducing relay race. But if you ask Amanda Flores, senior director of operations at Flour + Water Hospitality Group and founder of the Bay Area Restaurant Collective, it doesn’t have to be that way.  

“I try to not feel rushed or anxious before a red eye by being on time, taking it super easy and not letting my heart rate increase,” she says. “The more relaxed you are, the easier the flight will be.” 

Ease into your trip by getting to the airport early. If you have time to kill, swing by the airport lounge, curl up with a good book, or conduct some calming breathwork. “Treat it like part of the journey! It’s part of the vacation,” she adds. “Try and enjoy it and make it your reset button for what’s to come as opposed to something you have to do to get to your trip.”

If you want to take your travel zen to the next level, it’s important to choose a comfortable outfit. “The airport lights can be intense and add to your body feeling super alert,” Flores says. “I recommend wearing semi-tinted glasses to help your nervous system stay chill.”

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2. Manage Your Meals 

When Erik Perez of Hello PR Group flies from the West Coast to Europe, he tries to be mindful of his flying day diet. “I only have one cup of coffee early in the morning and [otherwise] try to avoid caffeine,” the California-based publicist shares. Once he’s Euro-bound, he prefers a light meal to help him sleep.

Gretchen*, a frequent flyer based in Salt Lake City, says your beverage choice can affect your overnight flight. “No wine because it’s dehydrating,” she says. “Hydrate a ton because it helps you feel better in the morning.”

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3. Sacrifice Your Screen

We love taking advantage of an in-flight movie as much as the next person, but Flores implores you to resist the urge. “Opt for audiobooks over movies or shows,” she explains. “You can have your eyes closed and avoid overstimulating your brain with blue light from the screen.”

If listening to an engrossing plotline will keep you wide awake, Perez says there’s an app for that. “I download a sleepcast to help me just ignore the noise from the plane and that helps as well,” he explains. Fortunately, meditation apps like Headspace or Calm will lull you to some well-deserved rest. 

Complete your cozy setup with a plush eye mask and noise-cancelling headphones. If you want to upgrade your carry-on, check out these in-flight essentials the pros always pack. 

*Name has been changed. 

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