sleep...

[queendisney]

OK what I need are suggestions on how to get some sleep on the way back to the UK which is always overnight with Virgin Atlantic. Have flown back so many times and still do not manage even 10 mins of sleep! I feel like death warmed up driving home in the morning. Don't want to resort to pills as not THAT bothered but it would just be nice to feel sort of human when I land

What do you do?

 

[Strawberry's mom&dad]

When we fly overnight it is a 5.5-6 hour flight.
Meditations works well to relax me. Can at least get cat naps that way.

 

[jtlover]

I use a beanbag pillow thingey. It moulds into the side of the seat and allows me to sleep for a few hours. In fact last year I slept through breakfast.

They are on ebay as well as at motorway shops - that is where I got mine last year

 

[Elise79]

No suggestions just wanted to sympathise - I can cat nap but never get any real sleep.

I usually drive home the crash for a couple of hours in bed.

 

[queendisney]

No suggestions just wanted to sympathise - I can cat nap but never get any real sleep.

I usually drive home the crash for a couple of hours in bed.

its hell isn't it? have tried so many things and nothing works. I think I will just have to accept that I will feel and look like something from the MJ Thriller Video!! LOL..

I sort of think that if I take sleeping pills etc then I would prob still be in the seat when the next flight boarded...

Have got some really relaxing music on my IPod that sort of sends me into a nearly nodding off state which my DH said is about as good as itls going to get and is as good as having 40 winks...

 

[chocolateMinnie]

never manage a full flight of sleep but usually 5 hours or so. My tip is to eat a largeish meal at lunchtime then snack (flight time permitted) at the airport. My body then thinks it's had its meals for the day. After take off I take my contact lenses out and put on my specs, plug the earphones into whatever most boring (but not irritating ) music is on the flight and chill. Usually the turbulence half way home wakes me back up again though

Always end up stopping half way home on the motorway for a double espresso - that keeps me awake for the last hour or our drive :

 

[mss]

Definitely get an eye mask and some really good ear plugs. I've found that the noise and light in the cabin makes falling asleep nearly impossible.

Last couple of times we've flown home, I've been asleep from the moment they let us recline our seats - Disney is exhausting!

 

[dixonsontour]

Maybe the herbal pills like nytol - may be enough to tip you over to sleep combined with the other tips on here.

 

[steve_rob]

If you're anything like me, then I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you.

There's no solution.

Some people it seems just can't sleep on flights.

I've tried sleeping pills (I'd have been better off popping Smarties for all the good they did), used inflatable pillows, earplugs, tried all sorts of remedies that worked for others, but I have never managed more than an hour's sleep on a flight (and that was in Business Class with a flat bed style seat - I normally don't get a single wink in an Economy seat). I've even got myself so tired that I actually needed to sleep (basically stayed up far too long) and felt that I was about to drop off in the terminal, yet still couldn't actually fall asleep once I was on the plane.

But then with me it's not just planes - I can't fall asleep on any sort of transport (trains, cars etc.) or public places. I think it's that there's too much background noise that does me in. Even with noise cancelling headphones I still notice it.

So now I've just given up and go completely the opposite way. I'll try and get a nap before flying, then afterwards dose myself up on caffine and provide myself with plenty of entertainment for the flight to keep myself wide awake during it and hopefully for the few hours between the airport and home.

 

[starrysky]

The best advice I can give is get an eye mask, get some cozy socks to wear once you take off your shoes. Get at least one of those neck pillows and if you can a small inflatable pillow (got my eye mask and the neck/inflatable pillow in a set from asda they fold up really small) stick the music onto the classical channel and then do some deep breathing. If I've not got at least an hour after that I get up and stretch and if possible take a walk and then try again and normally I get about some more sleep doing this best was 4 hours.

Sleeping pills don't work but for some reason some of the anti sickness pills with the mild sedative work pretty well. I get nauseated on most forms of transport. Best I have found are the boots own brand travel sickness pills. Or if you don't want to take pills there are things called sleep cones which are like plasters you put on your wrists which work on acupressure points to help you to fall asleep.

 

[CAROLINE4]

oh i feel your pain i never get any sleep on a flight at all!!

we have 4 children under 11 so while they and hubby are snoring im sitting wide awake just watching and getting annoyed with myself!!

we fly economy and all squashed up like that does not allow for a peaceful and relaxing flight, this year however i will have my 1 year old daughter on my lap so sleep is totally out of the question

but i do sit and look through the camera pics and remember how much fun we had on our trip!!

hope you find an answer!!

 

[EllieJ]

Hi ,

I am usually the same however this time we flew home on the new airbus and i listened to some sort of meditation/ relaxation on the IFE .

I can honestly say it worked ....

Got to be worth a try , i am not sure if i was asleep , but felt rested and the journey seemed to go quickly .

Sam

 

[Kevin Stringer]

Beer - and plenty of it!

As others have said, ear plugs, an eye mask and kick off your shoes. Having said that, I try all those and still only doze.
I also like planes that have the little wing things at the side of the headrest. They help to prevent your head sliding off.

Kev

 

[Netty]

I buy the melatonin tablets from vitamin world, http://www.vitaminworld.com/pages/Categories.asp?CID=728&searchterm=melatonin&rdcnt=1
the only problem is that I am worried about is snoring my head off ........

 

[blodders]

I buy the melatonin tablets from vitamin world, http://www.vitaminworld.com/pages/Categories.asp?CID=728&searchterm=melatonin&rdcnt=1
the only problem is that I am worried about is snoring my head off ........

There are loads on there.....what strength do you buy.....and at what point in your journey do you take them? Are you alert at the other end?

 

[Netty]

the lower dose-1mg around an hr before boarding, i have tried the 5mg but felt quite drowsy in the morning.

 

[Girlsontour]

My legs really hurt when i get "over-tired"!! So then i sit there, tired, unable to stretch my legs out and they really ache!!

 

[blodders]

the lower dose-1mg around an hr before boarding, i have tried the 5mg but felt quite drowsy in the morning.

Does this actually make you sleep or just more relaxed? And for how long? I never ever manage to sleep at all when travelling even in business class.

 

[cymbeline]

Nothing works for me unfortunately, I have learnt to accept it and listen to my Ipod and keep myself occupied. My legs get restless when I'm tired too and that drives me mad. Watch out for the Nytol - that woke me up even more! Did the same for a friend too. Very odd.

 

[Twinkly-Tink]

Just a word of warning!!

Normally I can't sleep on planes but somehow managed to sleep nearly the whole flight back this year from Miami; I was very impressed with myself

that was until the next day when I had to go to the GP who sent me to local hospital DVT suite where they diagnosed a DVT

Quite scary and contributing factor, as well as the flight (and I am a normal fit healthy person) was not moving around. So whilst it's good to get some sleep moral of my story is if you must then please do this in moderation!!

On our next long haul flight looks like no sleep for me

Lynn