Six Hacks to Feel Your Best After Flying

image via pinterest

Last week, between meetings, we packed up for three months in New York and headed east for the summer. It was a stressful two weeks to say the least, and I sandwiched every appointment I’d regrettably put off all year into our last few days in LA (dermatologist! dentist! oil change! oh, the joys of adulting). So, by the time Friday rolled around, I was determined to avoid getting even more rocked by that LAX to JFK flight. Long flights can pose unique challenges to your health: dehydration, bloating, poor circulation, fatigue, stress, and the list goes on. With these considered hacks, however, you too can mitigate the dreaded airplane aftermath.

Let’s face it: flights are stress-inducing. Even if you’re perfectly organized and everything goes exactly as planned (when does it ever?), simply boarding a commercial airline and flying 30,000 feet in the air at 600mph takes a toll on your body. For one, it zaps your energy. As the plane soars to higher altitudes, the air pressure drops, and your body takes in less oxygen. So with less oxygen coming in, it’s common to feel drained or short of breath. On top of that, the changes in cabin pressure can cause the gas inside your stomach and intestines to expand, making you feel bloated. Compounded with the dehydration factor and sitting for hours on end, it’s a recipe for feeling more than sub-par upon arrival.

With this in mind, I consulted

Dr Natazia zu Stolberg

, who I’ve been seeing every Monday for acupuncture on her best tips for feeling your best post long-haul flight. Here’s what she shared! If you know Natazia, you know she is the anti-bloat expert and really knows her stuff.

1. Drink tons of water! Have one electrolyte on the way. Starting your trip well-hydrated is key, which I know is easier said than done. Now that TSA doesn’t allow liquids through security, you have to be diligent about bringing your own bottle to refill once you’re through. I always try to down 32 ounces of water before leaving for the airport, and have a water bottle I can refill once I’m at the gate.

2. Drink Rest + Digest tea on the plane and upon landing / after meals. The Rest + Digest tea is a warm treat in-flight, and I enjoy it more than I would a glass of wine. (Avoiding excessive diuretics like alcohol and caffeine the day before flying and while in the air is key too, helping combat dehydration.)

3. Walk upon landing if possible (30 minutes). Walking upon landing is usually easy to accomplish. We did it naturally this trip because Tim had left his car at the TWA hotel to avoid the dreaded Uber to Long Island. So we shuffled about 6 enormous bags (+ Elsie in her stroller) from terminal 4 to 5 and got our steps in along the way.

4. Wear compression socks. If you’ve ever noticed that your feet and ankles are crazy swollen after a long flight, you’re not alone. When you’re jammed into an airplane seat for hours on end, the blood flow in your legs slows down, increasing the risk of blood clots and other circulatory issues. Sitting for long periods often leads to fluid accumulation in the legs and feet (lovely!). Enter: compression socks. Simple, yet effective, wearing compression socks on long flights improves blood flow, allowing your body to combat swelling or clotting and improving any discomfort like leg fatigue. Compression socks have even been shown to help you recover more quickly from the stress of travel thanks to the improved circulation they provide. I’m partial to these by Comrad.

   I also try to elevate my legs (space allowing…) or do some simple stretches in my seat. Calf raises and ankle rotations are better than nothing! It’s also helpful to get up frequently during the flight and walk around a little. (A perk of traveling with a baby is that no one bats an eye if you’re pacing the aisles more than most.) And if you’re wondering whether compression socks are a total fashion faux pas, my friend Peyton made me laugh the other day with this mental picture. Compression socks and Rothy’s clogs - illegal or passable? For me, it’s totally passable and your legs and feet will thank you after the fact! Fun fact, the Rothy’s clogs are 30% off until tomorrow.

5. Skip in-flight meals. This is the hardest one for me, and my success rate is probably about 50%. Sarah Wragge explains it perfectly here, and makes a strong case for planning your pre-flight meal thoughtfully and enjoying it while you’re still on the ground. The cabin pressure changes, as mentioned above, impact our digestion, so any food consumed on the plane sits stagnant in your gut. And honestly, airplane food is pretty gross anyway, even when you’re traveling nicely.

6. Jet Lag. If you’re traveling to a new time zone (particularly with a little one), here are a few tips to help you adjust:

• Gradually shift sleep patterns 3-5 days before departure

• Expose yourself to morning and evening light upon arrival to tap into your body’s natural circadian rhythm

• Reduce screen time around bedtime to help adjust to the time zone more quickly (another @Natazia tip)

• Eating protein rich meals (especially at dinner) will help keep you asleep at night

  

  Bonus Points. The right clothes and travel-sized skincare help make the flight feel comfortable and productive. I love wearing eye patches and bringing a travel-size moisturizer, face mist, and lip balm. Vitamin C is another must for me when traveling, and by now I’m sure you’ve heard me evangelize Dr. Nigma’s Vitamic C Cocktail. It makes consuming water more enjoyable and helps combat the germs you’re encountering.

• Every time I shower, I remind myself to share this soap with you. Tim actually found it at Credo and I discovered it in our shower. (I was later met with the question, “Have you been using this??”) It’s the perfect amount of light exfoliation in a soap bar with a fresh, green scent (cactus!) and the ingredients are as clean as can be.

• Another shower hero is the Wonder Valley Body Scrub. I didn’t realize Wonder Valley made anything but olive oil, but as it turns out, they do and their products are 10/10. It’s a little thicker than the Linne scrub I love and exfoliates just as thoroughly. A good one to try!

• I appreciated this read from Jill Kargman at Air Mail Look this week. She introduces Amy Larocca’s new book, How to Be Well: Without Spending All Your Money and Losing Your Mind. Extracted from Jill’s piece are a few down and dirty tips to remember (spoiler: they’re very foundational!). I liked this reminder that feeling our best doesn’t have to mean going crazy to get there.

1. Drink enough water.

2. Sleep as much as you can.

3. Eat leafy greens instead of things you can’t pronounce.

4. Move your body around as much as you can, preferably in nature.

5. Find some sort of faith in a force bigger than yourself.

6. Spend time with friends. Love your family.

7. Don’t work all the time.

8. Look for the best medical care you can manage.

9. Don’t monitor these things too obsessively, or you’re liable to go nuts.

A mantra for this week.