1. Pack Strategically

Before boarding, take all your in-flight essentials (smartphone, tablet, toothbrush, medication, lotions, etc.) and place them in your personal carry on – the one that goes under the seat. This way you won’t have to grapple with the overhead bins to access the things you need. This is especially handy if you don’t have an aisle seat or you’re on a bumpy flight.

2. Dress for Comfort
The airplane is not a runway and there’s no reason to dress to impress here, unless you happen to be Victoria Beckham. It’s a lot easier to fall asleep in comfier attire than tight jeans and a button-up blouse. To keep things casual-yet-presentable, opt for tights or jogging pants with a sweatshirt. For added comfort, take off your shoes in flight and add an extra pair of socks to stay cozy.

3. Have Teeth Cleaning Gum on Hand
I try and brush my teeth during longer flights, but admittedly, sometimes I’m grossed out by the bathroom on the plane and I just can’t bring myself to do it. Luckily, teeth cleaning gum (e.g. Orbit) acts as a stopgap between trips to hygienic bathrooms and if you can just pop one in after a meal instead of getting up to brush your teeth.

4. Keep a Bottle of Water with You
Either purchase a bottle of water before you board (after you get through security, of course), or ask the flight attendant for a bottle before they dim the cabin lights. Once it’s “lights out”, you won’t have to worry about waking anyone to get a drink.

5. Hydrate – Inside and Out
The dry air on flights can be almost unbearable for some. Unfortunately there’s no quick solution to this other than to keep drinking fluids throughout the flights. Some of us also suffer from dry skin in the air and this is where tip #1 comes in handy. If you’ve packed your lotion(s) into the carry on under your seat, you can moisturize as often as you like, which can mean the difference between tolerance and misery.

6. Avoid Static and Braid your Hair
This probably isn’t an issue for most men, but those of us who suffer from static-charged tangled messes of hair on long flights can avoid this whole fiasco by just braiding it. Braiding your hair keeps it neat and completely out of the way so you won’t have to fight during the whole flight.

7. Nervous Flyer? Sit Closer to the Wing
If turbulence keeps you on edge during long flights, sit closer to the aircraft’s wings. When a plane is in the air, it acts like a fulcrum (not something I want to fully visualize), with the front and back experiencing the most movement. The center of the plane tends to remain the most stable throughout the flight.