The one hurdle between home and a far-flung escape is usually the long-haul flight. There's no making economy luxurious, but the difference between arriving frazzled and arriving fresh comes down to a handful of habits any regular long-hauler will swear by.
Beat the clock
The biggest enemy is jet lag, and you can blunt it before you board. Shifting your sleep an hour or two toward your destination in the days before, then living on arrival time from the moment you're on the plane, helps enormously. Understanding how jet lag actually works makes it far easier to manage.
Move and hydrate
Cabin air is dry and long stretches of sitting are hard on the body. Drink far more water than feels necessary, go easy on alcohol and coffee, and get up to walk and stretch every couple of hours. Your circulation, and your mood, will thank you on landing.
Build your nest
Comfort is a kit: a decent neck pillow, an eye mask, noise-cancelling headphones and a downloaded film or two. Dress in soft layers for the swinging cabin temperature. Small preparations turn a dreaded flight into just another part of the adventure — and get you off the plane ready to enjoy the trip.
