File puptcrit/puptcrit.1003, message 285


From: Christopher Hudert <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:38:31 -0500
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Sleeping on planes


I try to get just a little sleep deprived before long flights so that I 
fall asleep more easily. Mental relaxation of both the mind and body 
also helps. If you are wondering what mental relaxation of the body is, 
and you haven't taken theater or other classes that used it, basically 
you focus on letting the energy and especially the tension flow out of 
specific body parts. It helps not only relax the body, but by moving 
the focus to this exercise it relaxes the mind by not focusing bills, 
what has been left undone, and the myriad of other worries great and 
small. If I get through the body relaxation and haven't fallen asleep, 
I move to the deliberate mental relaxation. I focus on a blank screen - 
white, a light color, or take a dark color and keep lightening it. 
Sometimes other thoughts creep in and I have to put them in a file and 
go back to my blank screen. Maybe imagine yourself enjoying painting a 
large wall with all day to do it and no pressing needs.  What ever 
works for you, do.

If you get a beach ball, try not inflating it all the way. I have an 
inflatable pillow that I like because it is not huge, but it is also 
flocked so it doesn't have that plastic feel. You can make a mini 
flannel pillow case if you need to cover your plastic pillow or beach 
ball. I like the inflatable pillow because it packs flat but is small 
enough that it blows up (and deflates) pretty quickly. Don't recall 
where I got it, but I think they may have them in some airport or 
travel shops. I'm sure I didn't buy mine there because those places 
charge through the nose and I'm too cheap to pay those prices. Might 
try the travel section of your local CVS, Walgreens or other drug 
store. If not there, maybe Target.

In addition to the pillow, eye cover, headphones and iPod, you might 
see if you have a light weight blanket. Oh, and on your iPod have an 
audio book that is informative but not a gripping story. The Library 
often also has a little device called a "Play away" which is like a 
self contained audio book on an mp3 player. You just put your own 
battery in and headphones. They check them out for two or three weeks, 
so it should be good for the whole trip, as long as you bring enough 
batteries.

Also, if certain herbal teas relax you and help you sleep (Celestial 
Seasonings Sleepy Time?) bring a couple of those tea bags. Pack a few 
more in your luggage for the trip home.

When you are awake, take a stroll down the isle and do a couple of easy 
stretches and shake out moves. Not only will it be better for the blood 
flow than if you sit the whole time, but it will actually relax you 
some. Part of the inability to sleep sometimes comes from crampy 
muscles that just need to be used and are reminding you of that. 
Actually this works at home, too, when you can't sleep.

Something that works for some is to recast the noises and feelings 
about you. Mentally you are not flying, but floating on a river in the 
warm sun. The noises are not airplane hubbub but the voices and sounds 
of people attending your needs and watching over for you. I think you 
get the picture.

An now, since I am writing this in the middle of the night, I think I 
will try a little of my own advice, practice some of these methods and 
go to bed. I'll send this in the morning.

Christopher

On Mar 11, 2010, at 7:24 PM, Hobey Ford wrote:

> I've considered an inflatable beach ball to lay my head on but I'm not
> sure what my fellow passengers would make of it.   Or some sort of
> apparatus to lean on. or a head band to velcro my head to the head
> rest.  They say alcohol might not be the best thing, but the brandy
> sounds good.  Someone just suggested eye covers ear plugs, neck pillow
> and blanket over the head.  I flew to Singapore years ago and after 21
> hours of travel had to perform 5 hours later.  I don't do this sort of
> work abroad often so any other tips would be appreciated.

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