Nate and I are planning a trip to Australia this August, and I’m so excited I can barely contain my squeals of joy. (Seriously. I think I might explode one day in a burst of high-pitched shrieks.) The one thing I’m not so excited about? Nearly an entire day of my life spent on a plane.

The longest flight I’ve ever been on was 9 hours—nothing compared to the 22 to 23 ahead of me—so I decided to consult the internet and everyone I know for ways to survive the journey. I hope it helps you too.

Exercise Before You Board

“The day before: I will usually ramp up my work hours to as much as I can handle. The morning of/night before: Really intense circuit/cardio (I dig kettlebell circuits/soulcycle/hot barre for this). By the time I am at the gate, I’m completely exhausted and at complete peace (I have all my work done!!) Total knockout on flight!!” -Pia Ghosh

Plan Out Your Sleep Routine

“Check out what time it will be in your destination and sleep according to that time! If you just try to sleep away the flight, you’ll be jetlagged for sure. Even if the entire flight is in the daytime where you’re heading, DON’T SLEEP. Just watch movies and stay awake or you’ll regret it. [My husband] fell asleep and I couldn’t convince him to wake up on our flight back from Dubai. He is STILL jet lagged and keeps waking up at 5 a.m. and going to bed at 8 p.m.” -Valerie Stewart

Put on Some Super-Sexy Compression Socks

Gotta keep the blood flowing to your legs. Compression socks can help with that, and flight attendants on Northwest Airlines recommend that passengers point and flex their toes regularly to prevent blood clots. And, as obnoxious as it may be for your fellow passengers, getting up and moving or stretching every few hours is another must.

Binge-Watch an Entire Series

Buy an entire season of a show, download it on a tablet or laptop, and immerse yourself in a different world. Some highly addictive options: Homeland, Breaking Bad, Empire, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Happy Endings, How I Met Your Mother, Pretty Little Liars.

Bust Out the Eye Cream

Many people complained about their skin drying out on long flights. Unscented lotions and eye creams can help you feel refreshed when you’ve still got hours before landing.

Consider a Sleep Aid (If You Plan on Sleeping)

Many people recommended using something to help you catch some Zzz’s, whether it’s a glass of wine, Tylenol PM, Ambien or Diphenhydramine. Definitely don’t mix or use a combination of these, and talk to your doctor before taking any of ’em at all. It was fascinating to see how many people swore by some kind of sleep aid, though.

Keep Your Mind Active

Find something that engages your brain and really makes you think, whether it’s a book of Sudoku puzzles or a work project you’ve been meaning to tackle. All that time spent sleeping or passively watching TV can eventually make you feel bored out of your mind. A whodunit pageturner you can devour on the plane will also keep you guessing. And make the time fly by!

Photo: Danist Soh/Unsplash