It is rather ironic that sitting for long periods of time can wear you out. It isn't the exertion that gets you, it is the lack of it. Your body simply isn't given any work out at all, so you tend to become lethargic and just kind of blah. All of this is particularly true when you are on a long flight.



Flying is uniquely difficult on your body over long distances. First, you are confined to a small area, particularly those tiny little seats most airlines seem to use now. Second, you are in a pressurized cabin, which can have some subtle effects on your body. To keep you sanity and some energy, there are some basic things you should do during a long flight.

The first step is to get up from time to time. If you sit in a chair for 10 hours, particularly in a pressurized cabin, you can find your shoes getting tight. The blood starts pooling in your legs. While the human body was certainly designed to sit, doing it for 10 to 14 hours straight is not within the design specifications! Try to get up and walk around once every two hours or so. This gets the blood moving again. If you can find space by the bathrooms, try to stretch your legs. Most longer flights are on large planes that have such space.

It is also important to realize that you are in a very dry encapsulated area on your flight. You may not realize it, but you can easily become dehydrated on longer flights. Try to drink water with every meal. Also, try to bring a couple large water bottles onboard or buy them on the plane. Make sure you empty them before you land to stay hydrated.

Long plane flights are a necessary task if you want to travel to other continents. A flight from Los Angeles to Asia will easily run you 14 hours or more. From New York to Munich is still going to be 9 hours or so. To help you feel better when you land, take the above steps.