Ignore those TikTok videos – the sleeping position that can do serious damage on a flight
A SLEEP expert has shared his tips for getting some shut-eye while on a plane.
He has tips and tricks that make sleeping on a flight more comfortable – but there’s one sleeping position you should avoid.
You might think that simply managing to sleep while traveling is enough of a win.
Your body is affected by the sleeping position you choose, however, and it can be tough on long flights if you’re positioned inoptimally.
James Leinhardt is a sleep posture expert and founder of sleep science-informed mattress and pillow company Levitex.
James shares advice and guidance about optimal sleeping positions with his 679,000 TikTok followers.
In a recent clip, he discusses optimizing rest in one of the trickiest places to sleep – on an airplane.
“Comfy in economy? It’s not impossible,” he said.
He stated that there’s one position you should absolutely avoid when flying.
Travelers should never try to sleep with their arms crossed in front of their faces while leaning forward onto the seat or table in front.
“Make sure you recline your chair,” James began.
This was an important first step for travelers looking to raise comfort levels while flying.
“This will distribute your body more evenly and there’s less pressure coming down on your bottom,” he said.
His second piece of advice was to always ensure your neck is supported.
“Not with those squishy memory foam nonsense things that let your neck collapse,” he stated.
Instead, James recommends taking an old sweater and wrapping it around your neck, secured with an elastic band.
“When you do this, your neck doesn’t drop or flop as much and you get support.”
His third piece of advice concerned the lower back.
He said that on plane seats there often ended up being a gap between the lower back and the chair back.
“Place a lumbar support or a cushion into that space and you’ll have much better support,” he said
“With these tips, you might just get a half-decent sleep while flying.”
Video viewers were fans of and added their own tips in the comments.
“Take a flight which most likely is not fully booked and book a seat in the back. If the flight is half empty, take three chairs and sleep like a baby,” wrote one commenter.
“This is why I choose seats with no one behind me. Recline whenever I want,” said another.
“Great advice!” wrote a viewer.