If you’re an avid traveller you’ve probably posed yourself the question, how to feel fresh after a long flight? The struggle is real but not completely unavoidable. Keep reading to find out my tips for feeling good after a 20-hour flight.
Long flights can really take their toll on your body. After 20 hours, cooped up on a plane, you’re likely to feel pretty run down, tired, and down-right unattractive. It’s an unfortunate, but necessary component of travelling. For many years, and even to this day, my life has been divided between France and Australia. I used to travel between these two incredible countries several times a year. It was tough on my body. I used to have bags under my eyes, my skin looked atrocious and it took me about a week each time to recover from jetlag. Like you are probably doing now, I did a lot of research and read many articles for travel tips and I’ve now developed quite the travel routine to help me to feel fresh after a long flight. It’s not a complicated routine, more of a series of small exercises to lessen the flight’s impact. Nothing will ever completely eradicate jetlag but you can certainly reduce its severity. If you’re about to embark on a long flight, keep reading, here’s how to feel fresh after a long flight.
Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate.
This is by far my most important tip. The lack of humidity in the cabin air can easily lead to dehydration. Bring an empty 2lt bottle of water with you and fill it up once you’re through airport security. Sip on it throughout the flight and if you run out, don’t hesitate to ask a flight attendant to refill it for you. You should also try to avoid too much coffee and alcohol which can increase dehydration – although I must admit, I always like a glass of wine during the flight.
Hydrate your skin.
Whilst we’re on the subject of hydration, let’s not forget our skin. Dry, irritated skin is not uncommon during flights. I apply a rich moisturiser before the flight, then use a hydrating spray, like this one by Lierac, every hour or so once I’m on the plane. It’s also a good idea, once the first leg of the flight is over, to cleanse your skin with gentle cleansing wipes to remove any dirt and bacteria from skin. Reapply your hydrating cream directly after.
Get comfy
I’m always freezing cold during a long flight so I make sure I have everything I need to stay warm in my carry-on bag. I pack everything from thick socks to large scarfs. I wear soft warm jumpers and loose-fitted dresses with leggings underneath. This may not be the sexiest look, but it means that I can relax, be comfortable and hopefully get some shut eye.
Feel refreshed
Sitting on a plane for over 20 hours leaves you feeling pretty stale and unclean. I always pack cleansing wipes, deodorant and a toothbrush and toothpaste. After the first leg of the flight I like to give me body a once over with the cleansing wipes, reapply some deodorant and brush my teeth. It may not be possible to have a proper shower, but this will definitely help you feel fresher.
Change your perspective
If you dread long flights and find yourself constantly counting down the hours, try having a change of perspective. I like to look at flights as 20 hours of pure relaxation time. How often do you get to sit around and watch movies for an entire day? Not often I’m guessing. Changing your perspective means you focus less on the time remaining and thus it tends to fly by more quickly.
Plan your sleep
Make sure you know what time you arrive at your destination. For example, if I arrive in Australia at night, I’ll try to sleep during the first leg of the flight and force myself to stay awake for the second. This means that when we land in Australia, I’m tired enough to get a decent night’s sleep. I find this is one of the best ways to avoid jetlag.
It may seem as if I go to a lot of effort to feel fresh after a long flight, but the reality is holidays are never long enough. I want to make the most of this time and feeling jetlagged and rundown is not at all ideal. These tips work well for me but if you have some other advice for avoiding jetlag and feeling good after a long flight, make sure you drop me a comment below!
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