You Should Start Wearing Sunglasses At The Airport. Here's Why.
Sunglasses are usually a must-have on many vacation packing lists. But it turns out you may want to put on the shades before you even make it to your vacation destination. Sleep experts say that donning your sunglasses while in the airport could actually help you with that pesky jetlag that seems to be unavoidable.
Strategic light exposure is one of the best ways to adjust to a new time zone because light has the strongest effect on our internal circadian rhythm, according to Well and Good. The new patterns of light and dark that occur when switching time zones while traveling triggers confusion in our body about when it's time to sleep or wake up.
Putting those sunglasses on through the airport and on the airplane for an afternoon flight to a destination where it is already nighttime can trick your body into thinking it's time for bed. This means you may have a better chance at some shut-eye on the plane.
More reasons to don your shades at the airport
Other tips for getting some sleep on the plane are eating a bigger meal before boarding so you don't have to stay awake for dinner, waking up earlier that day so you are tired earlier, and bringing an eye mask to swap out the shades if that's more comfortable for you sleeping (via Well and Good).
While you may feel silly at first wearing sunglasses on the plane, there are some other benefits. You still are exposed to UV light when on a plane, especially during take-off after going through the clouds, making it all the more important to wear your sunglasses for eye protection (via Travel Experta). Sunglasses can also help with visual fatigue you may experience while flying from sun glare, giving you better vision and possibly getting rid of those headaches from squinting.
So the next time you stroll through the airport, try out this trick to battle jetlag. This way, you can arrive at your destination well-rested and ready to explore. Plus, you'll feel and look fabulous while traveling!