It is no secret that we here at CulturallyOurs love to travel. Travel adventures to far off exotic places are an absolutely thill but often, the time it takes to get there is not. If your travel involves a flight, you know that long haul flights can make even the more seasoned travelers a little uneasy. Long haul flights are notorious for making people anxious, nauseous and tired, especially if you cannot sleep on an airplane. Not to mention dry skin, legs cramps and headache that sometimes takes a couple of days to get over. Certainly not the best way to start a vacation.

So if a long haul flight is in your travel plans this holiday season, here are some tips to help you get through it relatively unscathed and ready to enjoy your vacation the moment you land.

#1 Regulate your sleep as much as possible

Yes, sleeping on an airplane is not for everyone. If you are like the general public and tend to travel in economy all the time, sleeping sitting up is one of the most uncomfortable activities ever. But it is in your best interest to try and get as much sleep as possible to make sure you are ready for go-time when you get to your destination. You can keep jet lag at bay by regulating your own sleep time to when it is sleep time at your destination. This will help you hit the ground running when you arrive, and ease the transition especially in a new time zone.

Sometimes things like a comfortable pair of socks, noice-cancelling headsets, good eye masks and comfortable clothing are all that you need to catch a few hours of quality sleep. And sometimes, you need something stronger like a sleep-aid. It is what it is but be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any over-the-counter or prescription sleep aids. And stay off the alcohol if you do.

#2 Dress comfortably and in layers

Planes tend to be invariably cold. Especially for long haul flights the temperatures vary from time to time. So make sure you dress comfortably and dress in layers that can be taken off or added on. Stretchy pants and loose shirts or sweaters usually do the trick. Wear comfortable shoes that can be easily slipped on and off so you are not fumbling in the dark to put them on or take them off. Bring a packable, lightweight puffy jacket with you even when you headed to warm climes. It can be Muti-functional as a pillow or a throw if needed.

#3 Be prepared for any motion sickness

If you’re one of those unlucky passengers who gets motion sickness just by being in a moving vehicle, your best bet is to banish the queasiness before it hits and take an over-the-counter medication when you board the plane. However if you are only affected by motion sickness in case of turbulence, then it is best to keep it handy in the seat front pocket so you can have it in case of an emergency. If taking a medication is not your thing, there are many bands and such that can be worn on specific parts of the body, like your wrist to prevent motion activated sickness.

Another thing that helps with motion sickness is to hydrate yourself. You may want to bring a reusable water bottle and have it filled up as soon as you board so you can take a few sips periodically. Ginger chews or hand candy can also help do the trick of keeping the nausea down.

As always, talk to your doctor before taking any medications.

#4 Pack different forms of entertainment

Long flights can get very boring and monotone, especially the hours that you are awake. Bring many different forms of enterimnet to help pass the time. Sure, many long haul flights have a great entertainment system with a multitude of channels. But sometimes staring at the screen for an extended period of time can also give you a headache. Instead, try to rotate out your entertainment options – be it a book, or a puzzle or even a small travel size board game that you can play either solo or with a friend.

Sometimes flight entertainment system don’t work and there is nothing a flight attendant can do, apart from perhaps giving you some airline miles credit. While that might not be a bad thing, it can make the long haul flight an even more miserable experience. So be prepared with your own form of entertainment. Maybe you download games to your phone, bring an e-reader or create some vacation music playlists to listen to if you don’t want to read or watch TV. Don’t forget to pack earphones and a charging block to keep your devices powered up.

#5 Flex and stretch frequently

We all know that sitting for long periods of time can leave your body a little out of stiff and in severe cases, can cause blood clots, which are painful to get over. Most people find that on flights longer than 12 hours, sitting too long can cause ankles to swell up. This can take a couple of day to return to normal and if you have a packed agenda the moment you land at your destination, it can certainly throw all your plans out of whack.

You can improve the blood circulation in your legs and feet by getting up and walking up and down the aisle every few hours. Sure, compression socks can help but nothing that flexing and stretching your body and your feet to get the circulation going again. Most long haul flights will include simple stressing exercises and ideas in the laminated paper document in your seat pocket. In some of the newer flights this might actually be a channel or app on the flight entertainment system. Just ask the flight attendant if they have any information if you are prone to swollen angles.

#6 Make the best use of layovers

Make sure you take advantage of layovers to recover and prepare for the next leg of your journey. Resist the temptation to seek the closest wifi and checking your social media or work email. Instead, spend about ten or fifteen minutes stretching your muscles or even doing some yoga or meditation. Many airports around the world now offer meditation rooms for this reason. Sometimes Rehydrate well and eat a healthy meal that won’t make you feel bloated or sick. Skip the caffeine and soda. These days many  travel credit cards include entry into airline lounges. Sometimes you can even buy a single day entry to the lounge. Lounges in places like Frankfurt and Singapore even have showers for longer layovers, a great way to relax and wash up in a setting that’s usually less chaotic than the rest of the airport.When all else fails, remember that while the journey might be tough and painful, the light at the end of the tunnel is worth it. The moment you land at your destination, your true adventure begins. As we prep for our second CulturallyOurs travel retreat to India, we are certainly going to keep these tips in mind.

What about you? Do you have some tried and tested strategies for dealing with long haul flights?

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