Q: I travel a lot.  Can I use sunshine pillow?
Of course!  In the car or on the airplane, sunshine pillow is the most favorite of all available pillows.  Click here to see how our users love it.

If you have ever fallen asleep during a car trip, an airplane flight, or a train ride, you know how painfully stiff your neck and shoulders can be afterwards. And while other pillows do offer a little bit of comfort, they still leave you sore when you wake up. When you fall asleep sitting up, your head has a tendency to lean to one side, leaving your neck and shoulder muscles sore and stiff when you wake up. Stiffness in these areas can cause headaches and make it difficult to get comfortable later. The Sunshine Pillow provides luxurious support for your head and neck to prevent you from developing pain and stiffness in your shoulders and neck, allowing you to comfortably arrive at your destination. 

  Q.  My neck hurts, can sunshine pillow help?
  Yes, it will.    Most neck pain is associated with poor posture. The goal is to keep your head centered over your spine, so gravity works with your neck instead of against it.  Sunshine pillow has a ergonomic contour.  It helps you keep your head in a balanced position.  In turn it can relief pain and prevent damage to your shoulder and neck muscle.

  Your neck has a hard job — holding up your head. Leaning into your computer or hunching over your workbench just makes its job more difficult.  Poor posture certainly contributes to neck pain. Your neck contains bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles and nerves, any of which can hurt.  Neck pain also may come from regions near your neck, such as your jaw, head and shoulders. Conversely, problems in your neck can make other parts of your body hurt, such as your upper back, shoulders or arms.   

• Take frequent breaks if you drive long distances or work long hours at your computer. Keep your head back, over your spine, to reduce neck strain. Try to avoid gritting your teeth.
• Adjust your desk, chair and computer so the monitor is at eye level. Knees should be slightly lower than hips. Use your chair's armrests.
• Avoid tucking the phone between your ear and shoulder when you talk. If you use the phone a lot, get a headset.
• Stretch frequently if you work at a desk. Shrug your shoulders up and down. Pull your shoulder blades together and then relax. Pull your shoulders down while leaning your head to each side to stretch your neck muscles.
• Balance your base. Stretching the front chest wall muscles and strengthening the muscles around the shoulder blade and back of the shoulder can promote a balanced base of support for the neck.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach. This position puts stress on your neck. Choose a pillow that supports the natural curve of your neck.

  Travel Tips:

How to Be Comfortable on a Long Airplane Trip

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
These days, going long distances without flying is nearly impossible. Unfortunately, airlines try to pack as many people as possible in a plane and they compromise some of the comfort of flight. Whether across the country or across the world, here are some steps and guidelines that you can follow to help ensure that your flight experience is as comfortable as possible.

Steps

1. Reserve a good seat. Even within the same class and fare, some seats are far superior to others. Consider an aisle or exit row seat for leg room, or a window if you want to sleep. Try seats for aircraft-specific information on individual seat comfort and amenities.
2. Bring something to entertain yourself. Usually, movies don't start for some time, and the built-in music selection can be quite poor.
3. Forget about the time during the flight, you cannot do anything about it and the flight will feel much longer if you always think of how much time is remaining. Do not check your watch regularly (preferably not at all) and try to avoid looking at the in-flight map showing the current position of the plane (if one is available).
4. If possible, go with an airline that offers AVOD (Audio Video on demand), which is a TV screen in front of your seat which lets you choose what you want to watch, play or listen to.
5. Bring your own headphones. The headphones available on the plane (whether for purchase or for free) are usually of poor quality. Noise-canceling headphones and in-ear headphones are great if you have them, and can help block out engine noise and the conversations of other passengers. But even standard headphones or earbuds will be a big improvement.
6. Minimize your carry-on luggage. One backpack is fine for the plane.
7. Bring a toothbrush, and anything else which isn't a liquid or a gel, that you need to help freshen up before meeting your loved ones at the end of your long flight. They, and your neighbors in-flight, will be glad you did.
8. Consider bringing your own food on board if you care about taste or health. On some airlines, plane food is quite poor. Check airlinemeals.net before and look through the reviews and decide if you should buy food before the flight.
9. Contact your airline in advance to find out if they still offer free meals and potentially request a special meal. Many airlines offer Vegetarian, Kosher, Halal and other "special meals" if you order two days in advance. And because the airlines have to specially prepare your meal, it is usually better than the standard food fare. Plus, passengers with special meal requests are almost always served first. If your airline doesn't offer a free meal, be sure to bring your own or buy one at the airport.
10. Move around. This is especially important on longer flights, to prevent your body from aching due to low circulation. Some airlines provide guidance on in-seat exercises you can do (such as circling ankles and stretching arms). The long mid-flight stretch on overnight flights is an excellent time to take a stroll up and down the aisle a few times. There is usually room to do some back stretches at the back of some of the cabins.
11. Opt to sit near the back of the aircraft for long haul routes, if you don't mind the extra noise produced by the engines. Certain aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 series, have a large area behind the last row of seat in the back of the aircraft that give you plenty of space to stretch.
    • However, do not sit in the absolute rear of the plane as there will be noises and smells from people using the bathrooms and other areas in the plane's rear.
12. Participate in the in-flight exercise video, should your flight provide one. These are designed to help with body circulation and reduce fatigue.
13. Take steps to protect yourself from the dry air on board the plane. The air in a plane is much drier than desert air, and will dehydrate your system.
    • Drink plenty of water. Although you can request water from your flight attendants, it is a good idea to bring plenty of water on board with you. You may either purchase bottled water once you pass security or bring and empty bottle with you to fill from a water fountain. Remember that the you should never drink the water from airplane bathrooms; it may contain bacteria.
    • Use eye drops (eye drops may now be carried through security) whenever your eyes feel dry.
14. Bring lip balm or other gel in a 3 oz or smaller container and use it to protect both your lips and your nose from becoming painfully dry. You can put it on a cotton swab and coat the inner 1/2 inch of your nasal passages. It may seem gross, but it really works for preventing your nose from painfully drying out.
15. Take something entertaining with you, like CD, iPOD, drawing pad, etc.
16. Always have a couple of fresh magazines with you.
17. Take some sweets or other snacks with you.

Tips

• If you are flying trans-oceanic or trans-continental, long naps are the best way to break up the tedium, so you'll want to stretch out—right? With a little luck and a lot of vigilance, you may be able to stretch out and nap. Keep your eyes on both the boarding passengers and the availability of empty, middle rows (in a pinch two empty seats in the aisles will make do). When the number of boarding passengers thins out to a sparse trickle, get ready. Once you see the flight attendants close the hatch, bolt for that empty row you've been nervously eyeballing.
• Long flights can get quite cold at times. Bring an extra layer of clothing for warmth.
• If you have a cold, bring a decongestant like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) to help relieve pressure in your ears during takeoff and landing. Please note, however, that if you fly to Japan, Sudafed and other cold cures that contain pseudoephedrine are considered controlled substances and are illegal to bring into the country. Pseudoephedrine is also an "upper", and may prevent you from napping.
• Altenative solutions to the ear pressure problem (whether or not you have a cold) include chewing gum and opening your mouth.
• Pressure relieving earplugs (a brand name is EarPlanes) also help to relieve air pressure changes during flights.
• Don't worry about getting up to use the restroom often; the walking about will be good for the blood flow in your legs.
• Sleeping tips
  • If you intend to sleep on the flight, bring earplugs, eye shades, and sleeping pills. Also, try and get a seat in the 'frequent flyer' section, which is less likely to have chatty vacationers. Be aware that "bulkhead" can equal "babies", although the one behind business/first class may be fine.
  • High quality noise-isolating (different from noise canceling) headphones usually work best and can make a world of difference by reducing the plane noise to a mere background hum and allowing you to fall asleep to your music in a quiet environment. However, this type of headphone takes a while to get used to - do not purchase them specifically for the trip.
  • Seats next to emergency exits generally have more leg room, but usually do not recline. If you are up for the task of helping evacuate others in an emergency, try to request that you get a seat in the emergency exit aisle, unless you are traveling with children, who are not allowed to sit there.
  • Many airlines offer "sleeper service" in parts of the aircraft. In the "sleeper service" cabins, lights are extinguished after reaching cruise level. Call your airline and see if they offer that on your flight.
  • When you board the plane, change your watch to the destination's time. If it is nighttime at your destination when you board, try to sleep. Then force yourself to stay awake in flight during your destination's daylight hours. Upon arrival try to be outside to see the next sunset or dawn. Each of these things accelerates your acclamation to the new time zone. Light exercise also helps.
  • Bring some sort of foot elevator or use your carry-on. Airline seats are way too long in the thigh for short passengers, and you either end up hurting your back slouching to touch the ground or suffering from leg cramps because your feet are dangling in mid-air. Travel supply companies (e.g. Travelsmith or Magellan) usually sell some kind of compact folding contraption for this.
  • Bring a travel pillow, because the armrests aren't in the right place either. Put the pillow in your lap and rest your arms on that instead. A stuffed animal might work well too, and it's smaller. Most Boeing planes have little wings where you put you head that you can bend forward. You can use one of those blow-up neck pillows to support your head while you sleep.
  • Use your blanket to 'swaddle' your upper body and create a 'cradle' that pins your arms to your body, keeping them from flopping out and hitting others next to you or in the aisle. Holding one end of the blanket in one hand, tuck it under the opposite arm, then use the other hand to pull the blanket across your body and tuck in on the other side. It sounds strange, but this technique has helped on numerous transoceanic crossings.
• If you have a strong fear of flying, you could ask your doctor for a benzodiazepine (valium/xanax). These will lower your anxiety levels. Consider also prescription relaxation pills such as Temazepam to induce natural sleep. They work better and do not have the side effects of sleeping pills or alcohol.
• Alaska Air usually has "Digiplayers" that are very similar to AVOD on cross-country flights. For $10 you get about six movies, four TV shows, and a bunch of music videos.
• If you tend to get airsick, drink a small bottle of Ginger Ale before boarding and carry a newspaper in your backpack. The ginger will help calm your stomach and so will the smell of the newspaper.
• To relieve pressure in your ears, research the Valsalva maneuver (holding your nose and blowing) beforehand and know how to perform it correctly.
• If first (or business) class isn't completely sold out, boarding crews occasionally invite some coach class customers to move up. Your chances of this happening are best if you are dressed appropriately—this means no jeans or sweatshirts, no open-toed sandals, and no backpack or other unwieldy carry-on luggage.
• Get the wax moldable over-the-counter ear plugs. They work better than the cheap foam ones and are less expensive than the custom made ones. If you are concerned about noise, try to sit forward of the engines.
• WetOnes are of the best inventions ever. A self contained bath. They are pre-moistened anti-bacterial towelettes. They sell a small pack about the size of your palm for a couple of bucks.
• Get a NadaChair S'portBacker. It allows you to sleep sitting upright. It prevents slouching, which strains the lower back. Put this on, raise your seat almost upright, put the seatbelt snug across your lap, and you can sleep for hours with no discomfort. It folds up into a self contained bag about the size of a paperback book. (NadaChair's BackUp, not as compact, is recommended for larger frames.)
• If you are flying across several time zones, consider using "No Jet Lag" pills. Many experienced travelers use these to neutralize your internal time clock. They are helpful to get you into the new time zone without feeling effects of jet lag.
• Try downloading a few podcasts to your MP3 player before you leave. There are loads of them around, and there should be one that suits your interests. If your traveling alone for a while, a podcast or two should keep you company.
• Bring something to keep you occupied during the flight. Perhaps a good book or a magazine, a handheld game console[gameboy, nintendo DS, etc], etc.
• The last row of seats usually do not recline.
• If you want earplugs but didn't bring any, use tissue.
• Armrests can be raised (even on the aisle) but some have a hidden release latch. Ask flight crew.
• Don't be bashful about asking for extra napkins and cups of ice when drinks are offered. You might be given the whole can of a less-popular beverage if you ask. Hydrate! Soda pop is a bad choice because of all the sugar.
• Some airports have a rental kiosk for portable DVD players and DVD movies (about $10). Just drop it off at your destination airport.
• Short flights may take longer than driving when you consider airport parking, security lines, waiting for boarding, luggage pickup, car rental, cost, etc.
• Keep a photocopy (or more) of your main passport page spread out through your luggage. If your passport is lost or stolen, having the copy will make it MUCH easier to straighten out. If your bag is misplaced, it's more likely to be returned to you.

Warnings

• If you take sleeping pills, be sure to use something that makes you drowsy but not "out". In case of emergency, the flight crew needs to be able to wake you quickly. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) is a good option. Benadryl can cause excessive sleepiness in some people. Know how the medication will affect you before taking it for the plane ride.
• If you decide to take sleeping pills during the flight, it is a good idea to stay away from alcohol; they produce similar effects in the nervous system, and death may result in certain cases. In fact, about half of the accidental annual deaths are caused by alcohol tranquillizer/barbiturate combinations (sleeping pills can go under the heading of either).
• Small items left on the floor can slide forward or backward when the plane changes altitude. If you take off your shoes, put them in your bag, so that you don't lose them.
• Due to the latest security concerns, be prepared to put pretty much everything you might have wanted to carry-on, into your checked luggage. You may want to pack a cloth shopping bag into your carry-on. If for some reason you are forced to check your carry-on you can pull out the cloth bag and put in absolute essentials to take into the cabin. For the latest updates to policy, check the Transportation Safety Administration's Web Site and/or the transportation authority of the country you are visiting.

Things You'll Need

• Headphones
• Sweater, sweatshirt or other warm layer
• Earplugs
• Take-out meal, no beverages
• Eyedrops (no longer restricted for US air travel if containers are 3 oz or smaller - keep all liquids/gels in a single quart ziplock bag for security check)
• Lip balm or other protective gel (same note as eyedrops, above)
• Book (suggestion)
• Sudoku (suggestion)
• Computer (suggestion, unless required for business trips)
• Portable gaming system i.e. Nintendo DS or Sony PSP (suggestion)
• Toothbrush (get a travel-size container of toothpaste that will be 3 oz or less), floss
• Handkerchief
• Eye shades
• Inflatable Neck Pillow
• WetOnes
• A clean pair of underwear, a clean pair of socks, and a clean shirt
• Mini travel towel
• Listerine Pocket Pack
• Jet Lag pills
• Gum
• CD player, MP3 player, handheld game console etc.
• Snacks and quiet toys for your kids
• Sweat pants for overseas flights (more comfortable to sleep in)
• Bandana (for covering your eyes while sleeping and to pull your messy hair back when you land from an overseas flight)

Related wikiHows

• How to Pack for a Trip
• How to Travel With One Bag
• How to Protect Yourself when Traveling Abroad
• How to Solve a Sudoku
• How to Get an Upgrade to First Class
• How to Know What You Can & Can't Carry on Board an Aircraft
• How to Fly First Class or Business Class for Less
• How to Track a Flight in Progress
• How to Attend and Enjoy an Air Show

Sources and Citations

• TSA List of Prohibited/Permitted Carry On Items
• LoveMySeat - Your resource for the best airplane seating information, advice and user generated comments on the best and worst seats. International and domestic airlines included
• How To Survive Long Flights Detailed instructions on how I do multiple flights per year between Western Australia and the USA.
• Seatguru.com - Site with specific feedback on the quality of individual seats on each plane type for major airlines.
• Airlinemeals.net - Site contains reviews of airline food to help you decide if you should buy food before the flight.

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Comfortable on a Long Airplane Trip. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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