Busses are easily the most cost-effective means of transport.
Find yourself in a tight economic situation? Take the bus! As a matter of fact, you can take it whomever you may be! It’ll most likely be a wise investment.
With all that said, while busses have plenty of advantages, comfort is not one of them. Most of the time, you’ll find yourself sitting on stiff seats that can make falling asleep a pretty hard thing to do. This isn’t even considering the fact that it can be pretty noisy.
However, after reading this article, you’ll be able to sleep like a baby! We’ll provide you with tips and tricks that will mitigate almost all of the negatives and inconveniences you might face while sleeping on the bus. And now, without further ado, let us dive in!
Get Used to Sleeping Upright
In most cases, you won’t have an empty seat next to you. In that case, follow the wise words of Bear Grylls “Improvise, Adapt, Overcome.”
When you don’t have an empty seat next to you, you’ll have to sleep upright. However, you must keep in mind that in order to sleep effectively, your body will need to be in a relaxed position in order to fall into REM sleep. In this case, a neck pillow is pretty useful as it can provide a soft cushion while supporting your head and helping you relax in general.
Another great strategy is to get early to the bus stop in order to choose the best seat. Window seats are usually the best choice as they allow you to lean on the window and sleep in a more comfortable sleeping position. If the bus you’re on happens to have recline seats, make sure you take advantage of them as they go a long way in making fall asleep faster and more soundly.
Pack Smart Before SLEEPING ON THE BUS
While you’re on the bus with several other people, you won’t have the luxury of changing the temperature to your liking. Knowing that, it’s important to wear layers in order to help you adapt to the temperature of the bus. We recommend the following layers: tank top, short-sleeve shirt, long-sleeve shirt/sweatshirt. Wear these on top of each other in order to be prepared for all possible situations. When it comes to what to pack, make sure to pack a small blanket or something to keep you warm in order to combat the cold.
Another smart thing to do is to bring earplugs and an eye mask. As you know, light and sound are one of the main factors that can influence how fast you can fall asleep. Earplugs and eye masks will increase your chances of falling asleep exponentially.
Choose Timing Wisely
When it comes to choosing the time of the trip, the best times are when the busses are the least crowded.
Early morning or late nights are the best times as there aren’t a lot of people who travel during these times. This will dramatically increase the chance that you’ll have the whole row to yourself which is the best travel scenario as it allows you to take more freedom with your sleeping position.
Traveling during late nights is probably better than early morning if possible as you’ll basically hit two birds with one stone. A: you’ll find that the bus will be mostly empty, and B: you’ll naturally be sleepier which will help fall asleep faster and probably won’t interfere with your sleeping schedule.
Another thing that goes without saying is that choosing to travel during these times will almost guarantee that you’ll reach your destination faster as the traffic will be at its lowest point.
Carefully Select Your Seat
This tip can be counted as an extension to the first one. However, it deserves its own paragraph in our opinion, as choosing a seat can make or break your experience when sleeping on the bus.
While it mostly comes down to personal preference, it’s still important to know your choices in order to pick what works best for you.
When it comes to choosing between aisle or window seats, some people prefer window seats as they provide a sort of makeshift pillow. However, others tend to go with aisle as it offers more leg space.
The person you’re sitting next to can also make a difference as well. Sitting next to a man or woman is a choice you can make if you want. However, it’s not as significant as the previous choice.
While on the subject of seat position, front, middle, and back seats each offer different experiences when it comes to sleeping on the bus. To put it simply, the further back you sit, the more you’ll feel the bumps on the road. However, if you choose to sit in the front, you may find yourself seeing “too much,” by too much we mean that you might find yourself focusing a lot on what the driver is doing which can stress you out a bit.
Listen to Some Music While SLEEPING ON THE BUS
While earplugs are a handy option, music can also be just as helpful, as it can put you in a state of relaxation and give you a sense of safety which is very beneficial when sleeping on the bus.
Do Something Mundane
No offense to those who love doing puzzles, or reading books for that matter, but doing these activities will generally make you feel drowsy and more prone to falling asleep. Close your eyes as soon as you start feeling sleepy, and you should be on your way to dreamland.
Tire Yourself Out
The best way to sleep on a bus is to force it. How? Be as active as possible during the previous day in order to facilitate falling asleep later while on the bus. Nothing is as great a catalyst for sleep as physical exhaustion!
Watch What You Eat Before SLEEPING ON THE BUS
Eating a heavy meal before your trip can make sleeping on the bus easier and faster as your body will be busy digesting the food you’ve eaten which will make you feel sleepy.
There are things that you must stay away from like caffeine. This means that you shouldn’t drink coffee or sodas as they also contain caffeine.
If you’re prone to motion sickness when you’re on the bus, you should just stay away from eating anything right before the trip as that will only make your condition worse.
Drink Water
You should always bring a bottle of water and keep it by your side when you’re traveling – especially if you’re counting on sleeping on the bus. Staying hydrated is essential, no matter the situation or time, and if you’re nervous about having to go to the toilet from drinking water, don’t be; Most overnight buses have bathrooms that you can use so you shouldn’t worry about that.
Use Sleeping/ Motion Sickness Medicine
If you’re really having trouble with sleeping or you’re prone to motion sickness, you can take some melatonin to help you sleep and Dramamine to help with motion sickness. Don’t worry about melatonin as it’s completely harmless and pretty effective.
What do you personally do when traveling and sleeping on the bus? Share your tips in the comments!
References:
- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/can-music-help-you-calm-down-and-sleep-better
