Long Haul and Jet Lag: An Aníma Guide to Staying Sane, On and Off the Plane.
Festive travel can leave even the most seasoned flyer feeling scattered. Long-haul flights disrupt your body clock, dry out your skin and overstimulate your nervous system just when you need balance most. As the holiday glow fades and the miles stack up, smart rituals become essential for staying centred in the sky.
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by Maya Boyd
© Jonas Allert, © Documerica
1. Reset your mindset
The most effortless jet lag fix begins the moment you settle into your seat. Change your watch to your destination’s time zone and behave as if you have already arrived. Eat (lightly), rest and move to your new rhythm. It is a small mental shift that sets the body gently on course before the wheels ever touch the runway.
2. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
The air on long-haul flights is notoriously drying, which is why models like Vittoria Ceretti swear by constant hydration. She travels with a rosewater spray she keeps chilled in the fridge at home. She describes that cold mist as a ‘miniature icy shower for the face’ that keeps skin refreshed and awake through even the longest journeys. Rich creams, oils and serums will all contribute to that post-flight glow.
3. Hydrate, support and supplement
Gwyneth Paltrow takes the same inside-out approach. “Every morning without fail I take Goop’s glowing-skin powder. It has vitamins C and E and coenzyme Q10. I bring packets to mix in my water bottle on the plane. Lately I’ve also been using Cure’s electrolyte drink mix in berry for an extra hydration boost.” Paltrow also travels with a lightweight LED wand to give her skincare a lift in-flight. It only takes five minutes and helps counteract the dullness that comes with dry cabin air.
4. Keep flexing in-flight
Movement expert and founder of The Class, Taryn Toomey, swears by working the body, even when seated. “On long flights I always check in with my psoas muscle. A simple seated pigeon variation works anywhere. I cradle my leg, rock it gently and feel the femur glide in the hip socket. It softens the psoas, which runs from the inner thigh through the outer hip into the lumbar spine. When backs ache on planes it’s often this muscle tightening rather than the back itself.”
© Yaroslav Muzychenko
5. Prioritise light
Light is the strongest signal the body has for time. If you land to daylight, step outside soon after arrival for a walk or a coffee in the open air. Sunshine wakes up your internal clock and helps restore a natural sense of place. If you land late, lean into darkness. Use an eye mask, soften the lighting, avoid screens and allow your pace to slow. Treat light as medicine.
6. Move when you land
Gwyneth Paltrow often resets with a light swim or a few grounding stretches after a long flight. It’s a simple ritual that restores circulation and shakes off the static feeling of being airborne. A brisk walk outside, whether through a quiet neighbourhood or along the coast, can ease stiffness and lift mood while nudging your internal rhythm toward the local one.
7. Embrace sleep support
Treat your first night like a gentle retreat. A hot bath or sauna signals downtime for the body and the nervous system. Use soft lighting and a quiet routine and wear a high-quality – preferably silk – eye mask to darken the space and calm your senses. A low dose of melatonin can help slide your body toward local bedtime. Use it on the first couple of nights to guide your rhythm rather than override it.
8. No naps, no alcohol, no screens
A long nap can undo your careful time-zone adjustments. If you must rest, keep it to twenty minutes and aim for before early afternoon.
Skip alcohol for the first day as it disrupts sleep more noticeably after long haul, instead, sip herbal teas, meditate or read a book to wind down. Minimise screen time in the evening and give your mind a break from stimulation. Let your senses settle and your body will follow.
© Olivia Von Halle, © Solawave
The Aníma Edit Travel Essentials
Elegant, soft and warm – just what you’d expect from a travel pro like OVH. Team with matching socks to stay cosy and cocooned.
Just five minutes with this travel-sized wand will work wonders, especially used after serums and creams.
The classic luxury eye mask – plump, silky and cosseting, with no gaps and zero chance of fine lines.
A heavenly-scented and potent anti-ageing oil with mogra and ashwagandha to stimulate cell renewal and promote collagen production.
© Dore + Rose, © Subtle Energies
by Maya Boyd
© Jonas Allert, © Documerica
1. Reset your mindset
The most effortless jet lag fix begins the moment you settle into your seat. Change your watch to your destination’s time zone and behave as if you have already arrived. Eat (lightly), rest and move to your new rhythm. It is a small mental shift that sets the body gently on course before the wheels ever touch the runway.
2. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise
The air on long-haul flights is notoriously drying, which is why models like Vittoria Ceretti swear by constant hydration. She travels with a rosewater spray she keeps chilled in the fridge at home. She describes that cold mist as a ‘miniature icy shower for the face’ that keeps skin refreshed and awake through even the longest journeys. Rich creams, oils and serums will all contribute to that post-flight glow.
3. Hydrate, support and supplement
Gwyneth Paltrow takes the same inside-out approach. “Every morning without fail I take Goop’s glowing-skin powder. It has vitamins C and E and coenzyme Q10. I bring packets to mix in my water bottle on the plane. Lately I’ve also been using Cure’s electrolyte drink mix in berry for an extra hydration boost.” Paltrow also travels with a lightweight LED wand to give her skincare a lift in-flight. It only takes five minutes and helps counteract the dullness that comes with dry cabin air.
4. Keep flexing in-flight
Movement expert and founder of The Class, Taryn Toomey, swears by working the body, even when seated. “On long flights I always check in with my psoas muscle. A simple seated pigeon variation works anywhere. I cradle my leg, rock it gently and feel the femur glide in the hip socket. It softens the psoas, which runs from the inner thigh through the outer hip into the lumbar spine. When backs ache on planes it’s often this muscle tightening rather than the back itself.”
© Yaroslav Muzychenko
5. Prioritise light
Light is the strongest signal the body has for time. If you land to daylight, step outside soon after arrival for a walk or a coffee in the open air. Sunshine wakes up your internal clock and helps restore a natural sense of place. If you land late, lean into darkness. Use an eye mask, soften the lighting, avoid screens and allow your pace to slow. Treat light as medicine.
6. Move when you land
Gwyneth Paltrow often resets with a light swim or a few grounding stretches after a long flight. It’s a simple ritual that restores circulation and shakes off the static feeling of being airborne. A brisk walk outside, whether through a quiet neighbourhood or along the coast, can ease stiffness and lift mood while nudging your internal rhythm toward the local one.
7. Embrace sleep support
Treat your first night like a gentle retreat. A hot bath or sauna signals downtime for the body and the nervous system. Use soft lighting and a quiet routine and wear a high-quality – preferably silk – eye mask to darken the space and calm your senses. A low dose of melatonin can help slide your body toward local bedtime. Use it on the first couple of nights to guide your rhythm rather than override it.
8. No naps, no alcohol, no screens
A long nap can undo your careful time-zone adjustments. If you must rest, keep it to twenty minutes and aim for before early afternoon.
Skip alcohol for the first day as it disrupts sleep more noticeably after long haul, instead, sip herbal teas, meditate or read a book to wind down. Minimise screen time in the evening and give your mind a break from stimulation. Let your senses settle and your body will follow.
© Olivia Von Halle, © Solawave
The Aníma Edit Travel Essentials
Elegant, soft and warm – just what you’d expect from a travel pro like OVH. Team with matching socks to stay cosy and cocooned.
Just five minutes with this travel-sized wand will work wonders, especially used after serums and creams.
The classic luxury eye mask – plump, silky and cosseting, with no gaps and zero chance of fine lines.
A heavenly-scented and potent anti-ageing oil with mogra and ashwagandha to stimulate cell renewal and promote collagen production.
© Dore + Rose, © Subtle Energies
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