Flight attendant explains why you should always wear sunglasses on a plane
An experienced flight attendant has revealed the important reason you should think about wearing your sunglasses while flying on a plane. And it could have major benefits to you.
Most of us take to the skies when it comes to travelling abroad. And with the likes of Ryanair, EasyJet, and Jet2 offering daily deals on getting to stunning locations right across the world, it's no wonder that UK airports are busy all day, every day.
While brilliant destinations such as Dublin and Paris feel like they're around the corner, with flight times of an hour to their name, other locations aren't exactly a stone's throw away.
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Enter the world of jet lag. And as someone who flew to Australia a few years back, I can guarantee you it is a very real thing if you get your body clock wrong.
But there are some simple ways to get over this, according to one member of cabin crew.
Flight attendant Maddison Purdy spoke to Cult Beauty about her top tips for beating jet lag to ensure you feel fresh, allowing your body to adjust to a new time zone with no problems.
Sunglasses
One of the top tips from Maddison revolves around wearing sunglasses during one particular part of the journey.
"If your destination is ahead of your body’s time zone, wearing sunglasses upon arrival can be a clever hack to block out excessive daylight exposure," she explained.
"Flight crews always suggest donning sunglasses during your journey from the airport to your accommodation to help your body adjust to the local time and ease into a more relaxed state without straining your eyes."
Phone settings and sleep
You can also adjust your phone to echo similar outcomes to why you should wear sunglasses.
Maddison says: "One of the primary causes of jet lag is the disruption of your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
"To counteract this, we recommend changing the setting on your phone to automatically switch off blue light after a certain time. Blue light, similar to natural daylight, tricks your eyes into staying awake, hindering your ability to wind down to a restful sleep."
And on the topic of sleep, when travelling across the globe west to east, it is often the time difference that presents the most significant challenge for combating jet lag.
To try and counter-balance this, a gradual approach is recommended by Maddison. She says you should start adjusting your sleep schedule one week before your trip by going to bed an hour earlier each night. This pre-emptive step will make the time adjustment smoother and help you feel more refreshed upon arrival.
If you need a nap in your destination of choice, try and keeps it to 30 minutes tops to not disrupt your overall sleep pattern.
Brushing teeth (yes, really)
Maddison says that a 'common tip' among flight crew is to brush your teeth during the flight.
As bizarre as it sounds, she explains that the mint in the toothpaste can provide an 'invigorating sensation'. This gives you a quick burst of energy and temporarily fights off fatigue, she says.
Tom Earnshaw