Make Air Travel Easier on Your Brain and Body
Rich Bellis

For some people, flying is done once or twice a year for vacations or family gatherings. For others, flying is a weekly necessity. Whether you're in either of those categories or somewhere in the middle, it's likely you've felt the effects of flying: it can drain your energy, slow your digestive system, and take a toll on your sleep patterns. And because even frequent fliers are not immune to the effects of flying, Dr. Dani Gordon has put together a few easy tricks that can help make flying easier on your system. Gordon, double board-certified medical doctor and mental performance trainer, breaks it down into three categories: the night before, the day you fly, and as soon as you land.

The Night Before

  • Research airport facilities to maximize your downtime from a layover. If you have access to a private lounge, take a nap on comfortable airport lounge chairs. Find a shower and help reset your body with a 3-minute cold shower followed by a 2-minute hot shower. 
  • Plan to go offline, especially if you have a long flight. Ditch your devices and pack a journal, a book, or download some podcasts.
  • Take a 3-milligram slow-release melatonin capsule to get a good night's sleep the night before you fly. Melatonin also helps protect against colds and flus because of its immune boosting properties.

The Day You Fly

  • Swap airplane food for “superfoods" by packing protein-rich snacks like tree-nuts, seeds and dried prunes. You can make your own smoothie mix by bringing the dry ingredients to the airport then buy a liquid after security and mix it up.
  • Ditch the coffee for green tea, as caffeinated beverages leave you dehydrated, keep you awake, and lower your immune system. Green tea is lower in caffeine, high in EGCG (an antioxidant that can give your immune system a boost) and contains L-theanine (a calming amino acid that can help you relax).
  • Optimize nap time by bringing a high-quality sleep mask and high-tech ear plugs.
  • Go for a safer alternative to sleeping and anxiety pills by trying a calming herbal supplement. Valerian, passionflower, hops, lemon balm, or Chinese skullcap are good options, along with Vitamin B6 and milk protein hydrolysate.

As Soon As You Land

  • Get your heart rate up with exercise to reduce mental and physical sluggishness and help drain your lymphatic system. Try a short session of yoga or "HIIT" (high-intensity interval training).
  • Wind down your nervous system and get back into a relaxed state with some meditation. You can try an app, like Headspace.

Flying can do a number on you, especially long flights, so be prepared and remember these tips to curb your jetlag and keep yourself healthy.

Click Read More to be taken to the original article from Fast Company.

 




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