There’s really nothing more agonizing than sitting through a 14-hour flight. I mean, you can only download so many episodes of Brooklyn-99 before your phone crashes on the airport wifi. Fret not, reader, for I have the answer on how to remedy this dire situation: sleep! After sleeping for all but ~5 hours of my 28 total hours of flight time to and from Taiwan, I do consider myself a semi-expert on the matter, but I’m even more experienced in the excruciating boredom that plagues sleepless flights, so I will help you avoid staring at a map of the Pacific Ocean for eternity.
First, you must invest in a neck pillow and eye mask. The former protects your head from having to lean against the bumbling plane window, preventing pesky cramps and being woken up by turbulence. The latter keeps you sleeping soundly even if the cabin lights come on 6 hours before you actually land, preventing you from falling back into dreamland. If you’re lucky, you might score a complimentary blanket to bundle up in, which will keep you warm even with the gusts of the fans blowing in your direction. If you don’t know if you’ll receive one, definitely wear warm attire: long sleeves, hoodie, sweats, fluffy socks, etc.
However, let’s say the neck pillow and eye mask have been forgotten. In my experience, the best position to sleep in is with your arms stacked on top of each other, forehead on your forearms. Then, lean down onto the extended tray table like a little beetle and sleep! It’s certainly not optimal, but the jostling is minimal and your arms will block out the light. And with that, I bid you good luck on your next flight! May the bed bugs not bite!