How to Stay Healthy While Traveling, According to Flight Attendants

23.07.2024 - 16:57 / cntraveler.com / Hudson News

Most frequent fliers—especially flight attendants—are all too familiar with feeling bloated, sniffly, and fatigued after a long-haul flight. It comes at no surprise that traveling at 37,000 feet at 575 miles per hour inside a pressurized bullet filled with dozens of other people can take a toll on our bodies and immune system. To help you feel at-least semi-refreshed upon landing, here are tips and tricks on how to stay healthy while traveling, according to flight attendants (including yours truly).

As a flight attendant, there’s nothing like watching passengers sleep through a 4 a.m. flight somewhere over the Atlantic as we sip on the 13th espresso of our shift in the desperate hopes of staying awake.

Nowadays, sleeping on a flight is no easy feat; small and uncomfortable seats–or a reclining passenger in front of you–can make it a herculean task. As a flight attendant of seven years, I have (enviously) observed the many creative ways passengers make themselves comfortable in order to get some shut-eye—some of which work better than others.

Find the neck pillow that’s best for you: I’ve seen dozens of different types of travel pillows used on flights, including wacky-shaped headpieces and cushioned crossbody straps that attach to your seat. If you didn’t order one of the more intricate designs in advance, one hack I think works well for head-bobbers is reversing the classic neck pillow sold at any Hudson News airport store so that it supports your chin rather than your cheek.

Meditate: Nowadays, with apps like Insight Timer, listening to a guided meditation on a plane has never been easier. It can ease passengers into a deep sleep or help them overcome their fear of flying.

Natural sleeping aids: Many passengers sleep well using melatonin and other natural sleeping aids. However, experts advise against using a more potent medication, especially if you plan on drinking a glass of alcohol or two; the results can be straight-up disastrous.

Find out which neck pillow shape and position works best for your sleep habits.

While getting a few solid hours of sleep on the plane is the best way to arrive refreshed, fliers should always be sure to make a game plan on their preferred method for adjusting to new time zones upon arrival.

There’s a golden rule among flight attendants: If you have social plans or activities you need to do at your destination, never sit down. It’s a guaranteed express ticket to snooze land. I’ve experienced this many times—arriving, sitting down, and waking up at 3 a.m. with my cravat half undone and uniform scattered around me.

There are different strategies to combat jet lag, depending on your personal tolerance and trip length. Maria, a seasoned flight attendant at a Middle Eastern