Tips for Staying Rested on the Road

Author: Maranda Pleasant

Q: Any pointers on staying well rested on long-haul trips? 

M: First of all, I’m never well rested. But like my grandma once said, if you can’t sleep well, you can stay moisturized. I’m guessing she meant you can look good even if you’re dragging. I’m on a 13-hour flight next week from Los Angeles to Paris, and I am prepared. It might sound bougie, but I’m too old to play around with my comfort. 

At some point, I feel like throat-punching folks who want to open their window shades in the middle of the night on a red-eye, or yap for hours as loud as their vocal cords allow, so here’s my survival guide. 

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1. I insert earplugs, then put on my noise-canceling headphones. I need twice the protection against noisemakers.
   

2. If a child is on a loud device, you can bet your bottom dollar I’m gonna shut that down.
   

3. Protect your peace and your skin. I have a spray face toner, plus a rose water spritz. They don’t smell up the plane, and they feel nourishing and refreshing. I have face wipes and organic face cream with a base of shea butter or beeswax, and no chemicals. We’re not going to show up haggard. Not happening.
   

4. I carry a travel toothbrush and paste and use bottled water (never plane water) to refresh before landing.
   

5. I bring comfy socks and a soft change of clothes. I’m exiting a plane, not a bed, so I walk off looking put together.
   

6. I use my points to always fly business on long flights. I’m old, and I’m too cranky for the back of the plane. If you sign up for key credit cards at the right time, you can accrue hundreds of thousands of points in sign-up bonuses. I have a piece in this issue on maximizing points.
   

7. Select your eye mask carefully. Mine don’t press directly on the eyes and offer a soft padding around the face. My husband has a folder full of photos of me, mouth agape, wearing my mask on planes. When I get angry, he sends me a new one, adding fuel to the fire.
   

8. I bring a giant cashmere sweater, in case they try to freeze me out. I am miserable when I’m cold.
   

9. Whatever you do, don’t stay up for 13 hours watching movies on the plane, and skip a full night’s sleep. That’s me. Made the same mistake for years.
   

10. When you make it to the hotel, don’t crawl into that bed. Adjust your rhythm immediately to your new time zone.
    

11. Use a hanger or a pillow to hold the curtains together to keep light from entering your room in the morning.
    

12. Ask for a room away from the elevator, and fold a towel under your door to block hallway noise.
    

13. I always request a fan for the sound and the breeze. It’s also great at blocking noise.
    

14. I take way too many supplements, like magnesium and vitamin D, plus a host of others, to build up my immune system while on the road. Cabin air, coughers, and closed quarters require a boost. I’m not getting sick on vacation. Ever.
    

15. Self-care is insurance for other people that I won’t lose my marbles on them. Take care of your skin, find time to hit the hotel gym, go for a jog, or try a new Pilates studio (my favorite).
    

    

Maranda Pleasant is the editor in chief of ORIGIN Magazine.