Sometimes it is better than others. Ten or fifteen years ago coming back to the NYC area from San Francisco, I fell asleep as we were taking off and woke up as we were landing. That was a good sleep! It was a night flight-perhaps a red-eye.
@andyw …a red-eye is a great way to sleep, I have had a few women fall asleep next to me on those flights and when we got to the destination a few of them would sleep and end up leaning on me with their mouth open and I would have drool on my shirt, not a conversation starter… but kinda funny.
I haven’t traveled alone, so if I were alone I don’t think I’d be able to fall asleep unless absolutely exhausted.
My anxiety usually keeps me from relaxing enough to sleep during travel nowadays.
Just the whole “Will I get to my connecting flight on time? Will my luggage make it? Will I get searched? What does it matter if I get searched? I don’t know, but it makes me nervous anyway. Did I bring everything I’ll need? Will I have to take a nervous shit in this airplane bathroom? What if there’s turbulence while I’m in the bathroom? Will I have to check my carry-on bag on the connecting flight? Can they actually kick me off the flight if I fully paid and everything, just because they overbooked? How does that happen? What will I do? I hope I didn’t accidentally pack my pocket knife somewhere. Are they going to make a fuss about my kid scissors or crochet hooks?”
I’ve tried meditation, but haven’t been able to get into it very well. Like I can’t remember to do that when I’m already freaking out. Fortunately on a regular basis I feel pretty chill. It’s just uncommon situations where it gets this bad.
My meds seem to help at least! Not enough that I can sleep on a plane yet. But I’m seeing a new therapist who can hopefully help me work on it too!
For me, on planes, very rarely slept even on long flights. And I hated it when they would have everyone close the window shades to make a false “night” even though I wanted to look out.
I worked with a guy who could sleep almost instantly on flights. He was an International Sales manager and was constantly on flights to Asia and Europe. Said there was no way he could have been able to work that way without good sleep on the long flights. I envied that ability. Once we had packed equipment after a trade show in big wooden crates, and next thing I knew he was asleep on top of a wooden crate with trucks and fork lifts driving all around us.
I’m a nervous flyer, but I’ve trained myself to sleep on planes almost as soon as I’m seated. Usually I don’t sleep through the whole flight, unfortunately, but even blocking out part of it is helpful. I can’t sleep in cars, though. I mean, if I’m asleep, who will operate the imaginary brakes?
It’s fifteen hours in the air from Houston to Auckland. Damn right I slept. All the way through Tuesday. We left on Monday and arrived on Wednesday morning. Coming back, though, I experienced The 42 Hour Monday.
I am pretty good at sleeping when/wherever I deem necessary. Recently I slept for almost the entire car ride from Santa Rosa, CA all the way to Northeastern Oregon. I would wake up when we would stop for food or bathroom but then right back to sleep…
when I traveled for work, I could and did sleep on flights if I wasn’t stuck sitting next to a co worker. especially if I had a few beverages in the airport…
I typically have at least one business trip to the UK every year from DC. Here is the magic. Take an evening flight. Get to the airport early. Three gin and tonics at the airport bar. Get settled on the plane and after takeoff, one more gin and tonic. Stretch your feet and take a nap. Wake up in London and have a full English breakfast. Twenty minute flight… tops.
@capnjb Although I didn’t do the drinking, when I went from Asia - can’t remember anymore if it was Bangkok or Hong Kong CA (14 hours) with an 18 mo old (escorting her) and 9 year old I arranged it to be a night (their night) flight so they’d sleep most of the way. And they did. Me, not so much so, because I had one kid on the floor and one across two of the three seats with her lower legs and feet on my lap. The business man who had the 4th seat was horrified when we sat down. Fooled him. Kids were well behaved and slept.
When I am alone, no problem. I just close my eyes and I’m gone. But when I am with my wife, unfortunately, it is impossible. Her nerves keep her talking for hours on end.
Sleeping is something I’m really good at, I practice at least once a day.
@awk Teach me your secrets!
@awk I must be doing something wrong. I practice daily, but seem to be getting worse at it as the years pass.
Sometimes it is better than others. Ten or fifteen years ago coming back to the NYC area from San Francisco, I fell asleep as we were taking off and woke up as we were landing. That was a good sleep! It was a night flight-perhaps a red-eye.
@andyw …a red-eye is a great way to sleep, I have had a few women fall asleep next to me on those flights and when we got to the destination a few of them would sleep and end up leaning on me with their mouth open and I would have drool on my shirt, not a conversation starter… but kinda funny.
Car trips, also. Though I fight it when I’m the driver.
I haven’t traveled alone, so if I were alone I don’t think I’d be able to fall asleep unless absolutely exhausted.
My anxiety usually keeps me from relaxing enough to sleep during travel nowadays.
Just the whole “Will I get to my connecting flight on time? Will my luggage make it? Will I get searched? What does it matter if I get searched? I don’t know, but it makes me nervous anyway. Did I bring everything I’ll need? Will I have to take a nervous shit in this airplane bathroom? What if there’s turbulence while I’m in the bathroom? Will I have to check my carry-on bag on the connecting flight? Can they actually kick me off the flight if I fully paid and everything, just because they overbooked? How does that happen? What will I do? I hope I didn’t accidentally pack my pocket knife somewhere. Are they going to make a fuss about my kid scissors or crochet hooks?”
So yeah, usually I don’t manage to sleep.
@LaserEyes … wow, you should learn to meditate and use that to relax, all that worry is not good for a person over time…
@bayportbob lol, that would be nice.
I’ve tried meditation, but haven’t been able to get into it very well. Like I can’t remember to do that when I’m already freaking out. Fortunately on a regular basis I feel pretty chill. It’s just uncommon situations where it gets this bad.
My meds seem to help at least! Not enough that I can sleep on a plane yet. But I’m seeing a new therapist who can hopefully help me work on it too!
Folks, wear earplugs on plane trips. It will help.
For me, on planes, very rarely slept even on long flights. And I hated it when they would have everyone close the window shades to make a false “night” even though I wanted to look out.
I worked with a guy who could sleep almost instantly on flights. He was an International Sales manager and was constantly on flights to Asia and Europe. Said there was no way he could have been able to work that way without good sleep on the long flights. I envied that ability. Once we had packed equipment after a trade show in big wooden crates, and next thing I knew he was asleep on top of a wooden crate with trucks and fork lifts driving all around us.
Neck pillow, blanket, eye mask, ear plugs. I’m out. Wake me when we get there.
Plane, usually if I need to. Bus and train, depends on where I’m seated, time of day, and nearby passengers.
I’m a nervous flyer, but I’ve trained myself to sleep on planes almost as soon as I’m seated. Usually I don’t sleep through the whole flight, unfortunately, but even blocking out part of it is helpful. I can’t sleep in cars, though. I mean, if I’m asleep, who will operate the imaginary brakes?
It’s fifteen hours in the air from Houston to Auckland. Damn right I slept. All the way through Tuesday. We left on Monday and arrived on Wednesday morning. Coming back, though, I experienced The 42 Hour Monday.
Yes I can.
Keep it smooth and I can sleep.
Depends on alcohol intake, temperature and time of day. Also if I was staying up late packing.
I am pretty good at sleeping when/wherever I deem necessary. Recently I slept for almost the entire car ride from Santa Rosa, CA all the way to Northeastern Oregon. I would wake up when we would stop for food or bathroom but then right back to sleep…
when I traveled for work, I could and did sleep on flights if I wasn’t stuck sitting next to a co worker. especially if I had a few beverages in the airport…
I typically have at least one business trip to the UK every year from DC. Here is the magic. Take an evening flight. Get to the airport early. Three gin and tonics at the airport bar. Get settled on the plane and after takeoff, one more gin and tonic. Stretch your feet and take a nap. Wake up in London and have a full English breakfast. Twenty minute flight… tops.
@capnjb Although I didn’t do the drinking, when I went from Asia - can’t remember anymore if it was Bangkok or Hong Kong CA (14 hours) with an 18 mo old (escorting her) and 9 year old I arranged it to be a night (their night) flight so they’d sleep most of the way. And they did. Me, not so much so, because I had one kid on the floor and one across two of the three seats with her lower legs and feet on my lap. The business man who had the 4th seat was horrified when we sat down. Fooled him. Kids were well behaved and slept.
When I am alone, no problem. I just close my eyes and I’m gone. But when I am with my wife, unfortunately, it is impossible. Her nerves keep her talking for hours on end.
Hard part is staying awake when I’m not on a plane/train/bus.