2 Drinks and a Benadryl Make for the Perfect Flight.

Before our offices were shut down for COVID, I would walk around checking in on our employees and getting updates on their lives. After one such occasion, a younger girl I've come to connect with said "I'm going to call them Alisa's tips - I'll be expecting a new one every day!"

So, here is my first tidbit I've learned over my nearly 50 years of life, moving often, raising four kids and two dogs and running several businesses.

2 Drinks and a Benadryl Make for the Perfect Flight

That's pretty much it. I used to hate the discomfort, noise, boredom and exhaustion that inevitably comes from flying. The stress of not being able to relax, having strangers all around me, hearing crying babies and grumpy toddlers express their frustrations, left me stressed out and anxious.

But then my husband's job took him to living on the east coast 9 months out of the year, and one of my sons went to play college ball in Kentucky, and I found myself taking 3-plus hour flights almost bi-weekly. I had to be able to enjoy my visit and return refreshed, often landing on Monday morning and heading straight to work. So I can't afford to be sleep deprived on my return.

So here's my recipe for a perfect long flight.

1.  Get to the airport early enough to sit down at a bar or in a restaurant and unwind. 
2. Make sure all of your devices are fully charged so you aren't confined to a plug anywhere.
3. Pack:
   
   1. Your Best Headphones
      
   2. Neck Pillow
      
   3. Blanket
      
   4. Eye Mask
      
   5. Benadryl
      
   6. Sanitizing Wipes 
4. Get a window seat.
5. Put a single Benadryl in your pocket or other easy access.
6. Enjoy two (not one, and certainly not three) glasses of wine at a leisurely pace.
7. Board as late as possible.
8. Go to the bathroom just before boarding.
9. Pop that Benadryl.
10. Sanitize that window!
11. Cuddle up next to the window, throw your favorite calming music play list on and settle in for the duration.
12. Pray for no children behind you. This is the one game changer. All the noise canceling headphones in the world will not drown out an obnoxious 3 year old kicking your seat or a mom constantly bickering or making the dreaded "shhhh" sound.
13. Wake up refreshed and ready to go when the wheels hit the runway of your destination!

Disclaimer: This really only works on the way out, I am not recommending 2 drinks and a Benadryl before you have to put in a full day's work. I've found if I arrive rested I am perfectly fine working or doing other things (and not sleeping) on my flight home.

Give it a try! You might even find yourself looking forward to the break that flying can afford.

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