When I was a little girl, my parents would drive me around in my car seat to get me to sleep. When I was in daycare, my nanny would put a VCR tape in, hoping I would rest while all the other children had nap time — that’s how stubborn of a midday sleeper I was … and still am. I could never figure out the science behind a power nap; I wish I could. Winding back to my car seat days, I still find comfort sleeping on moving objects like trains, planes, boats or cars. Opposite to most, as long as I’m in a comfortable position, sleeping on a flight is no issue for me.

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Here are some tips for sleeping on a flight:

1. Always select a window seat. Nothing is worse than not knowing where to rest your head. I like to roll up a pillow or sweatshirt and utilize the wall to lean on.
2. Bring your blanket. Walmart sells soft blankets for $5 that can easily be donated or disposed of if you no longer want to carry it around after your flight. Once the plane hits a high altitude, I can guarantee the thin cotton blankets they provide you will not cut it, and you will be wide awake the entire flight trying to get warm.
3. Prepare a playlist of relaxing songs. I like to keep my AirPods in when traveling. The white noise from the flight mixed with relaxing song choices helps block out crying babies and chatty grandmas.
4. Don’t drink coffee. It’s hard to wake up for early morning flights without a coffee in hand; but if you can fight through it knowing you can sleep on the plane, it might help you fall asleep faster.
5. Dress comfortably. Wear sweatpants and sneakers and change later. It is worth it, trust me! You do not want to be trapped in tight jeans with uncomfortable buttons, unable to move around while sitting for several hours.
6. Wear socks. Cold feet are never fun when you are trying to sleep.
7. Avoid sitting by bathrooms. If you are by the bathroom, there will be a lot of traffic in and out next to you.
8. Fly direct. Fewer stops mean a longer route to sleep without interruptions.
9. Wear a comfortable face mask. Oddly enough, I don’t mind wearing face masks while traveling as I found they help keep me warm and cozy with the extra layer. However, I make sure it is a good fit, not causing pain behind my ears, or oversized, as I don’t want to be awakened by a flight attendant placing the mask over my nose.
10. Hope you’re not sitting next to a reader. Some people love to read with the overhead light on and, sadly, there is nothing you can do about it. I try to wear a hoodie so I can place it over my head and eyes in case of a situation like this, as I don’t like wearing eye masks.

— Christyn Pek, business development executive