Sleep Schedule

[btheis13]

We have a trip coming up soon to JNB. Talked to a couple of buddies who have been to South Africa before and they all give different advice on when to sleep on the plane. Leads me to my question for the day....what have you found works best for when to sleep and when not to sleep?

Our travels are from 10pm Chicago to 1pm London, 6hr layover, then 7pm London to 7am Joburg.

My thought is to try to sleep the first 4 hours on the first leg and then wait a few hours before trying to fall asleep on the 2nd leg. I have some go-to-sleep meds for the second flight.

 

[Elkeater]

Did a very similar itinerary last June. Phoenix to London. 7pm departure landing at 1pm in London, then the. Same
Flight as you to JNB.

I slept as much as I could both flights and was able to comfortably stay awake until around 8pm on arrival day and then wake up at a normal time the next morning. Melatonin and a coupe glasses of wine did the job.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

On a plane sleep IF you can ... when you can. I usually catch a nap during the layover in European airport. That way I arrive in Joberg early in the morning and in at the lodge in time to check my rifle that afternoon. Has worked well for me. But I never need much sleep in any scenario.

 

[Philip Glass]

We have a trip coming up soon to JNB. Talked to a couple of buddies who have been to South Africa before and they all give different advice on when to sleep on the plane. Leads me to my question for the day....what have you found works best for when to sleep and when not to sleep?

Our travels are from 10pm Chicago to 1pm London, 6hr layover, then 7pm London to 7am Joburg.

My thought is to try to sleep the first 4 hours on the first leg and then wait a few hours before trying to fall asleep on the 2nd leg. I have some go-to-sleep meds for the second flight.

After so many trips I finally found out the answer to your question. When I get on the plane I set my watch to Africa time and attempt to sleep accordingly.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

There is a 7 hour time difference between US CT and the time in Joberg. To help transition, go to bed earlier and wake up extra early, say 3am or so, on the day of your departure. You can even start the routine a few days ahead time. You'll be tired and sleep better on the flight.

 

[PARA45]

This has been my ritual. I'll watch movies when awake, sleep when tired, walk around the airplane when I'm awake. I've never felt the time difference while in Africa, way too excited to notice. Coming home, well, that's a different question. That is when I felt jet lagged.

 

[kdenn]

Timeshifter is an app that helps you adjust your schedule. It works but can be difficult to follow while continuing to do your daily job.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

There is a 7 hour time difference between US CT and the time in Joberg. To help transition, go to bed earlier and wake up extra early, say 3am or so, on the day of your departure. You can even start the routine a few days ahead time. You'll be tired and sleep better on the flight.

Can anyone sleep the night before departure? I'm usually wound up tighter than a drum.

 

[Mekaniks]

I slept yesterday... I will sleep again tomorrow ...

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I usually fly Delta. Houston, Atlanta then JNB. Try and sleep 8 hours the night before depart. I never eat on the plane other than some snacks I take. Eat on my normal timing at airports. After take off which is usually around 9:30pm. Stay up for first 3-4 hours of flight. Then sleep about 6-7 hours. Up the rest of flight so can get on Africa time for landing. Seems to work best for me.
Main thing I learned is start adjusting the day before to Africa time. That way jet lag is not so bad

 

[Russ16]

What works for me is just sleep when you can but most importantly when you get there operate on local time immediately. Don’t grab a nap on arrival. Don’t go to bet at a ridiculously early hour. Sometimes the arrival day can be rough but if you force yourself into going to sleep at a normal if slightly early hour on arrival you’ll be adjusted.

And don’t drink too much alcohol on the plane or arrival day. It may make you fall asleep but is a bad sleep.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I slept yesterday... I will sleep again tomorrow ...

Funny...but true for me.
I may get 4 to 10 hours of sleep today and not go to sleep for 18 to 36 hours, occasionally 48 hours later.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Can anyone sleep the night before departure? I'm usually wound up tighter than a drum.

For 5-1/2 years, I flew back and forth from Houston to Luanda, Angola, every 4 weeks. It was a 13-14 hour trip, non-stop on a all business class charter (Houston Express). I had to learn how and when to sleep. Departed Houston around noon and arrived in Luanda around 8am. We were expected to hit the ground running and put in a full day of work upon arrival.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

For 5-1/2 years, I flew back and forth from Houston to Luanda, Angola, every 4 weeks. It was a 13-14 hour trip, non-stop on a all business class charter (Houston Express). I had to learn how and when to sleep. Departed Houston around noon and arrived in Luanda around 8am. We were expected to hit the ground running and put in a full day of work upon arrival.

I doubt you were unusually excited about traveling to work in Angola ... unless you were expected to hit the ground running from bullets. On the other hand, I usually get pretty wound up the day before leaving for safari. Haven't wet my pants yet but a couple of times it's been a close run thing.

 

[Hooked Now]

I never got on schedule in RSA. I was too excited on the flight and we kept taking little cat naps at lunch once we arrived and started hunting...and then I was too excited with the hunting. I was on the ATL to JNB flight and it takes off at 9pm or so and landed at 7pm or so. So I didn't worry about it about 5 days in.

 

[KuduKiller]

I tend to stay awake the first 3-5 hours on the flight from ATL to JNB. I take a few Benadryl and have a few rum and cokes. If I get lucky I’m out for 4 or 5 hours. When I finally get to JNB and to camp it’s usually around 11pm and I’m dog tired! I fall right to sleep but wake up at around 2 or 3 am, wide awake. I power through some instant coffee and I’m up for the rest of the day. At the end of the first day, im asleep before my head hits the pillow and im usually pretty adjusted for the rest of the trip.

 

[Mekaniks]

Funny...but true for me.
I may get 4 to 10 hours of sleep today and not go to sleep for 18 to 36 hours, occasionally 48 hours later.

Yes sir.
The easiest way to adjust to a new schedule is sleeping when you can and just blow through it.

 

[deewayne2003]

After so many trips I finally found out the answer to your question. When I get on the plane I set my watch to Africa time and attempt to sleep accordingly.

Exactly!

This really works on those long flights, my 2 trips to Australia and 1 trip to Africa; I set my watch to the destination time and make myself sleep to that schedule - cuts way down on the sleep curve.

 

[Javaman]

Timeshifter is an app that helps you adjust your schedule. It works but can be difficult to follow while continuing to do your daily job.

+1! I use Timeshifter regularly and it really helps simplify things. Full disclosure, I get it about 85-90% right, hard to 100% comply with its suggestions.

 

[btheis13]

This timeshifter app is awesome! Thanks for the recommendation