I know, I've been there. And I bet you have as well. Sometimes it seems like a minor miracle just to get on a plane within a few hours of your scheduled departure time and with all your carry-ons and kids and reading material safely in tow. Then you sit down next to a sneezer. Or you can feel the cough from behind you whip through your hair. Or just the stress of packing, planing and de-planing has turned your whole body into one giant stress response.
So how can you avoid all this ewwww in the hours and days after you fly? Here are five tips you need to know:
- The nose knows. And it says nasal irrigation is the way to go. One of my favorite travel sites has a tip for staying healthy post-flight that you can do before you even pre-board. The thing is, it's all in your nose. Nasal irrigation (made popular by Oprah's pal Dr. Oz and his promotion of using neti pots to relieve seasonal allergies and sinus problems) not only clears out the excess mucus, it also clears out the bacteria, viruses, allergens and other oogie stuff from inside your nose. The saline solution you use will moisturize the nasal cavity and help prevent infections. I kid you not -- my friends who got over swishing out the snot and now regularly use a neti pot, swear by it and say it's made a huge difference in keeping the sick away.
- Hydration. A million times, hydration. No one needs to tell you that sitting on an airplane is like getting every ounce of fluid sucked out of you. Add to that an in-flight cocktail and having to buy expensive bottled water in the airport and once you've gotten to your hotel, you are probably feeling parched and pained. Counteract all that by asking for a glass of water whenever you can on a flight (it may mean you get familiar with the itty bitty bathrooms, but you will probably never see that guy in the aisle seat again thatyou have to crawl over four times anyway). Use the money you would have spent on a bad airline Bloody Mary and just buck up and buy a big bottle of water in the magazine shop to carry on. Water will help decrease the blerrrrgh of jet lag as well. Don't forget to hydrate your skin with your favorite cream or a few hits from a facial spray and moisturize your lips with balm, all of which will help you combat that stale cabin air.
- Snooze before you get on the plane. I often procrastinate packing my suitcase until the night before I leave on a trip. Then I am up late getting prepped and that means I usually don't sleep well or very much before I head to the airport. I usually justify it all by thinking I will sleep on the plan, and we all know how this usually works out. Terribly. There's a kid kicking your seat or you get stuck in the middle of two large men or it ends up being a very bumpy ride. Instead of playing the no-sleep game when you fly, pack a day or two early and set aside plenty of time to sleep before you leave. Ideally, you will get several nights of good, solid sleep before you travel, which will (just as hydration will) help you avoid symptoms of jet lag and stave of sickness once you arrive at your destination.
- Boost your body's defenses with meals and vitamins. Eating in airports and on airplanes is definitely not the best dining situation, no matter how hard we try to stay healthy. Eating a balanced meal before you fly will serve you well while you travel and even after you've arrived. If you skip breakfast because you are late and end up snacking all day on a plane, your body is not as well-equipt to fight off colds and flus.
- Snack and supplement wisely. As tempting as it is to grab a candy bar in the airport, the resulting sugar crashes and sleepies and digestive issues could make those "special" snacks so not worth it. Choose healthy trail mixes with nuts and dried fruits, dry whole grain cereal, protein bars or fresh fruit instead. If you are a supplement taker, taking the recommended dosage of vitamin C, vitamin E, mineral zinc or echinacea may help protect you against viruses (no need to take more than recommended, which could be way more harmful than good for your bod).
Read more: Need a bit more mental health in flight or on the ground? How about taking time for an Om Moment or two during all those delays?
[photo credit: Getty Images]
