Hold off as long as you can from checking the flight time
Time, of course, moves slower in unfavorable situations, like running on a treadmill. I’m no running expert, but I know not to check my watch every 30 seconds. The same goes for long-haul flights: When you actively track the remaining flight duration, you trick your brain into monitoring the passage of time, thus making the intervals in-between feel longer. For this reason, I recommend holding off on following that digitized airplane path until you absolutely can’t hold your curiosity any longer. In fact, I even make a game out of it, by guessing when we’re at the halfway point. More often than not, I’ve found myself undershooting my estimate for how much time was left. And it’s such a sigh of relief—like finding out something is on sale at the checkout counter.
Another way you can manipulate time is by scheduling blocks for certain activities, i.e. creating a little flight itinerary in your head. That might look something like listening to music during takeoff, having your in-flight meal, watching a movie afterward, reading for a bit (during which you’ll pop a melatonin), and then attempting to go to sleep. It’s easier to lose track of time when you’re not mindlessly jumping from one activity to the next.
Don’t be afraid to get some movement in
Compression socks alone won’t do enough to get the blood flowing; it’s imperative that you move your body whenever possible, whether that looks like doing a little lap around the plane or getting a stretch in while waiting for the bathroom. “On a flight lasting more than four hours, I recommend getting up and walking the aisle every one to two hours when it is safe to do so,” says Dr. Sanjiv Lakhanpal, CEO of Center for Vein Restoration. You can even do some exercises while in your seat, like ankle circles, heel raises, and foot pumps to stimulate circulation.
Preparation can begin before the flight too. “Before you even board, do not sit at the gate the entire time,“ Dr. Lakhanpal says. “Walk the terminal for a few minutes, then run through a short round of calf raises, heel-toe rocks, ankle circles, and gentle knee bends. Those same motions prime the calf muscles to push blood back up from the legs before you ever sit down.”
Build your own amenity kit
Being in the air for a dozen or so hours is a perfect excuse to replicate your regular hygiene routine. Now’s the time to brush your teeth, do your skincare routine, maybe even refresh your deodorant—whatever it takes to feel more human. While your airline might give you a complimentary amenity kit complete with a (janky) toothbrush, Towey and associate editor Matt Ortile recommend building your own—a curated selection of your favorite (perhaps mini) products that are ready to grab from one trip to the next. Below, some of Towey’s favorite products to throw in her personalized kit.
