When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

Normally, I follow my regular sleep routine, but all of the overnight international flights I have taken have been 8-14 hours (so there is ample time to squeeze in some Zzzs). I usually take a tylenol PM and get a few hours of sleep here and there and can function when I arrive.

We are flying to Ireland in two weeks and the flight is only 6 hours and I'm worried it's not enough time to get some good rest in, I don't know if I should adjust my previous night's sleep accordingly.

When we arrive at an international destination, we immediately adjust our schedule to the current time, so getting there in the morning means no sleep for a loonnggg time (and we are anti-nap because it always winds up hurting us when we go abroad).

What do you do to make sure you arrive refreshed after a 6-7 hour overnight flight?

Message edited 12/30/2008 12:18:40 PM.

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

I try to wake up halfway between wake-up time at the destination and NY

Message edited 12/30/2008 2:42:07 PM.

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

There's nothing I can do... I can't sleep on planes (too terrified) and the night before is pretty sleepless too since i'm so anxious. If we go on a long flight, the day we get there is usually just relaxing and catching up on sleep.

If flying doesn't affect you (like it does me) i'd just go with your usual sleep routine and try to get a few hours sleep on the plane too.

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

For really long flights (over 10 hrs) I try to wake up a little earlier or go to sleep later then normal the day of the flight. For a 6 hour trip I'd just follow my usual routine and take a short nap (no more then 2 hrs) when I got there. Have a wonderful time in Ireland!!

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

When I fly back to the UK the flight leaves NY at 6 pm and gets into Manchester at about 6 am, so usually I am at home by about 7 am (I only live about 6 miles from the airport)

I usually stay up long enough to have a cup of tea and I then go to sleep for 3-4 hours, then I throw myself right back into life. Usually I have to go to work the next day so I just get on with it. I never have jetlag because of this routine, I think its the best thing.

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

follow normal routine

I just got back from Europe. we flew in to Paris (a little over 6 hrs). I cannot sleep on planes. I probably got less than 1/2 hr sleep. we arrived at approx 1pm Paris time and I was completely exhausted. we took a cab to our hotel and I crashed for an hour or so while DH went out to check out the area.

when he came back, we both fell asleep for another 1-2 hrs and then I got up, took a shower and we went out to check out some sights and have dinner.

it worked out really well b/c we got back to the hotel at 10pm and went right to sleep - woke up at 7am the next day feeling refreshed.

I was really surprised. I had no jet lag whatsoever going or coming home.

Message edited 12/30/2008 7:19:08 PM.

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

This is all really good to know. I am heading to Ireland in about 6 weeks. I have the tendency to sleep on planes though. However, I have never taken a long, overnight, International flight.

Re: When you are going to take a long, overnight flight...

We follow our normal schedule.

We are flying to Germany in two weeks and I am dreading the sleep situation. I normally don't sleep on the plane, even an overnight flight, but I am taking something to help me this time.

When we flew to Ireland 2 years ago, we got there and, like you, adjusted to their schedule, and it was hell, but once we slept that night, we were fine. We did make the mistake of sleeping when we got there the first time we went to Europe, and that completely screwed us up the entire trip.