Traveling is amazing, especially if you’re visiting places you’ve never been to before. And if you’re flying there, that means you’re going somewhere far away from home, which is always exciting. However, there’s one major setback when it comes to flying to your favorite destinations – long haul flights. These are exhausting, both mentally and physically, and can take more than ten or even twenty hours. Relaxing after these flights is never easy, and most people need a couple of days to get back on track with their life. So, if you too are dealing with long haul flights all the time, here are a few ideas that can help you unwind after them.
Take a bath
This might seem like the simplest idea in the world, but that still doesn’t mean it’s ineffective. On the contrary, taking a long bath will help you freshen up and encourage your body to shake all that tiredness off. In addition to that, these long baths are necessary after all flights, especially those long ones. After all, you don’t want all that plane dirt and airport germs all over your body, but you want to feel good and clean.
So, whether you’ve arrived home, to a friend’s or a hotel, taking a shower can be surprisingly enjoyable. Quick hot showers will wake you up immediately, making your body alert and ready to go on with your day. This is extremely important if you’re on a business trip and have to be up and awake right after landing to your destination. If you’re on vacation, though, you might want to fill a bath and take your time. Put on some relaxing music and light a few candles, and you’ll forget all about your long haul flight in about ten minutes.
Get some sleep and relax
If taking a shower or a bath doesn’t seem to be working, you need to do something even better. Getting some sleep is ultimately the only way to relax after any flight, especially a long one. Doing this at your own home is the best scenario – this is the space you know and love, and your bed is the best bed in the world. Things are the same at hotels, and you’ll probably be able to get enough sleep there. So, shut your blinds and go to bed as soon as you arrive!
If you’re not in the mood for sleeping, you need to find an alternative way to relax. Some people are dealing with insomnia or are just too tired to sleep, so relaxing in another way is the only solution for their fatigue. Turn on your TV, start binge-watching your favorite Netflix show, or just lay down and put on some music. Whatever you do, just try to relax and forget all about your flight.
Eat something
Some people sleep their exhaustion off, while others eat it away. While you shouldn’t eat more than you usually do, you might definitely consider taking a bite after a long flight. Just make sure your meal is healthy and nutritive, and you’ll feel better in a matter of minutes.
In case you want to eat something special, you can do that as well. Food that’s full of alternative ingredients that make you moving is probably the best choice after a long flight. Things like those magnificent CBD gummies that stimulate your body and your mind are among the things you might want to try. These aren’t just tasty and cool, but also help you regain strength and concentration. That’s why you might consider eating a few of these, and you’ll better and more relaxed before you know it.
Go for a walk or swim
Walking might not sound like the perfect way to relax after a flight, but you’d be surprised how great this could actually feel. Walking will help you get some fresh air, and that’s the best way to recuperate and regain your strength. You might even meet someone you know and go for drinks, which is an even better scenario.
While walking is great, swimming is even more effective. Basically any kind of physical activity is good for your body after a long flight, but the thing with swimming is that water can do wonders for your muscles. It will help you relax and boost your spirits, and you’ll feel amazing no matter how exhausting your flight way.
Drink lots of water
Even though it’s a simple and common thing, water is surprisingly good for your body after flying. That’s why you need to hydrate not just during your flight, but especially after it. Airplanes are full of stale and dry air, and that’s not good for your body, so you need to start rehydrating as soon as possible.
Another problem with flying is that you lose lots of water, whether you’re aware of it or not. This issue is even more serious with those long haul flights that take hours and hours. Basically, this entire process wears you out more than you know, so getting more water into your system is vital.
Recovering after a long flight is hard, but it’s definitely not impossible. You just need to get prepared and know what might work for you the most. Some of the other ideas you should consider include booking a spa treatment, getting a massage, hitting the gym, and having a few cups of coffee. All of these ideas are great and effective, and it’s all about finding the ones that suit you.
QUEERGURU Correspondent PETER MINKOFF is a gay health and lifestyle writer at QUEER VOICES magazine. Besides writing, he worked as a freelance fashion stylist in Europe and Australia. A true craft beer and soy latte aficionado, he loves spending his days at the beach and visiting second hand stores on a daily basis. Follow Peter on TWITTER for more tips.
