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She Sleeps
Well -- She Travels Well
Evelyn Hannon
As the editor of Journeywoman.com,
I often travel long distances by air to unfamiliar and wonderful places.
This frequent flying has done nothing to help my body adjust to the
sleep deprivation that comes with the territory. It still rebels when
crossing many time zones on what seems like endless international
flights to the other side of the world. Strange beds, new bedtimes
and different diets will definitely affect any travellin' woman's
sleep patterns. That's why I've developed a bunch of strategies to
help me from being sleepless in Seattle, Singapore or Seoul.
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Preparing
for travel
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Be
ready a day early...
One of my "sleep well tactics"
is to get to bed early the night before I travel. I
know this sounds almost impossible but not if you treat
two nights before you leave as your deadline. For example:
if you are scheduled to fly very early Saturday A.M.,
then treat Thursday night as your deadline for having
all your office work completed, your clothes laundered
and ready to be put into your suitcase, newspapers cancelled,
friends notified, dog bathed, and so on. Friday then
becomes less harried and you have ample opportunity
to accomplish everything you need to do without burning
the midnight oil -- time to get your manicure, meet
a pal for lunch, pack your suitcase, etc. Waking up
refreshed the day of travel goes a long way in setting
the tone of your trip.
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Pack an extra layer...
I pack not only my regular cotton nightgown
but also a loose long sleeved tee-shirt that I can pop
over that nightgown if I am too cold during the night.
The shirt takes up little room in my suitcase but it
comes in so very handy when I can't seem to control
either my own body's thermostat or the thermostat in
my hotel room.
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Pick
a strategic room location...
Whenever I make hotel or B&B reservations
anywhere in the world, I specify that I don't want my
room facing onto a busy thoroughfare. This way while
I might miss out on an interesting view, there's always
a better chance that I'll get a good night's sleep.
A room that fronts on a main street often means a symphony
of assorted traffic sounds well into the wee small hours.
However, be prepared! The best travel plans often go
awry and you could end up in a noisy room. That's why
carrying a pair of ear plugs in your cosmetic bag makes
a lot of sense.
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Clothes as loose as
pajamas...
If I'm travelling overnight,
I wear loose, long-sleeved clothing -- made of breathable
natural fibers -- that will allow me to fall asleep
on the plane in as comfortable a position as possible.
I always have an extra pair of socks and a shawl in
my carry-on. Once the plane reaches cruising altitude,
I exchange my shoes for socks and my shawl becomes either
my wrap, my pillow or my blanket.
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Adjust
your watch...
Once on board I like to adjust my watch to the local time
at my destination. This helps to adjust my internal clock
as well. I don't normally eat at 2:00 AM and seldom am
I watching TV at 4:00 AM so why do it on an airplane?
My body might not be ready to sleep when my wristwatch
tells it to but at least I can close my eyes and relax
my body to the best of my ability. |
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Pack
a picnic...
Advising your flight attendant not to wake you if you
are sleeping during the meal service is always a good
idea. They will probably be kind enough to serve your
tray when you wake up later on. The other alternative
is to pack a light picnic -- some fruit, whole grain bread
and a bit of protein (cold chicken or mild cheese) which
will be available when you're ready for it. Drink, drink,
drink water every time it's offered to you. |
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A
terrific travel accessory...
I recently discovered the horseshoe-shaped Tempur
Transit Pillow (one of Journeywoman's current
sponsors) which provides excellent support for your neck
while travelling on a plane or in a car. What seems to
make this pillow so different from all the others is that
it's made of an heavenly material (originally developed
for the Space Program) which molds, via your own body
heat, to the exact contours of your neck. All I can say
is...to try it is to love it. It spoils you silly! |
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