How To Survive Travel on No Sleep

Today was a long old travel day. We stayed in a hotel with good beds but for some reason my anxiety about having to wake up at four in the morning kept me awake all night. Funny how that works.

I’ve written before about how to survive airplane travel. Today I’m going to tell you how to survive any kind of travel with a severe case of sleep deprivation.

1. Fuck the coffee

It’s not going to help. It won’t give you any more focus. You’re just going to be jittery and generally useless.

2. No booze

I mean come on.

3. Use headphones sparingly

Headphones are a great way to escape normally and I’d recommend them… but when you’re sleep deprived too much time in your own head can work against you. The worst thing about being tired is reminding yourself that you are tired.

So maybe try striking up a conversation with a stranger. Flirt a little. Overhear other peoples conversations. Just get out of your own head.

4. Exercise

Does your hotel or airport lounge have a gym? Just hit it for a couple dozen minutes. It’ll do more than any power nap.

5. Get sleep in anywhere

I personally am physically unable to sleep upright or in moving vehicles but if you can more power to you. The more the better here.

6. Bite the bullet, and get to bed early

There’s really no better cure. Get up early, do all the travel and try to have a good bit of rest on the other side. There’s just not much more you can do.