Top Ten Tips - Sleeping On A Bus
By Tip Dude | Jan 04, 2008
Categories: Activities, Bus, Etiquette, Medicine, Public Transportation, Safety, Sleep, Tips, Transit, Travel, Websites
Those of us who ride public transit generally like to use the commute time to do something productive, instead of having to pay attention to the road. One reader wrote to TipDiva.com asking “What are the best tips for getting to sleep on a bus?” I think that might depend on your sleeping style (Tip Dude’s are quite atypical) and the type of bus. Nonetheless, here are some helpful tips:
- Don’t Sleep Through Marginal Neighborhoods - If you’re riding a city bus through a marginal neighborhood, sleeping is the perfect way to get robbed.
- Sleep Less If You Use a Commuter Express Bus - You’re much more likely to be able to sleep on a commuter bus if you’ve not had enough sleep the previous night. Instead of sleeping for a full eight hours the previous night, try sleeping for just six hours. Then you might not have as much trouble falling asleep than you would expect. You will probably be tired all week at work the first week you do this, but as your body adapts to sleeping for about an hour or so every morning after your shower and breakfast, you’ll come to expect the sleep and thus sleep much easier.
- Overnight Intercity Buses Require Pillows, Eyecovers, Earplugs And Blankets - Many manufacturers make eye masks and ear plugs designed for the frequent airline traveler. Buy some disposable ones and pack them for your overnight bus trip. Bring a small pillow, which will either isolate the vibration of the window from your head, or fill the void between your back and the and the seat. Also, bring a blanket - sometimes overnight buses can get cold and you’ll wake up a lot during the night if you’re cold. Dress warm and use the blanket.
- Use The Reclining Seat - It is surprising how many people don’t know how to use the reclining feature on some buses. Look for a lever that is next to your bottom seat cushion - either next to the window or next to the isle. Usually there is a plastic ball on it like a gearstick in a car. Yank it backwards (or push it forwards, depending on seat model) while shoving your seat back with substantial force. The seat should lean back. Let go of the stick once the seat is fully reclined. Don’t worry about the person behind you - he/she has a reclining seat too and if he/she would only learn to use it, then nobody would lose any leg room.
- Lean Against Window Or Partition - On a city bus, sit in a seat that has a partition or a window next to it. Then you can lean on the window or the partition and then go to sleep.
- Listen To Your Digital Music Player - If noise and vibration bother you, an Apple iPod or similar MP3 player is a good way to drown out all the noise while you sleep. However, beware - some thieves target sleeping passengers wearing headphones - and they steal your iPod. So if you choose to listen to an iPod, do not use the white earbuds that came with it; use dollar store ones instead. Also, hide your iPod in the inside pocket of your jacket, with zipper closed. If you don’t have a jacket with a zippered pocket, L.L. Bean has a good selection.
- Position Yourself For Sleeping - Tip Dude has found that the most comfortable sleeping position is to lean right back, with his body almost in a straight line - foot extending under the seat in front, bottom leaning in the front half of the seat and back leaning against the high reclined seat back. Generally, the ’slouched forward’ position (head down, back hunched and bottom firmly planted at the back of the seat - similar to an airline ‘brace’ position) doesn’t work as well, because inevitably your neck and back starts aching after sleeping for half an hour.
- Use Your Favorite Drowsy Pill - Personally, Tip Dude doesn’t believe in taking medication to achieve drowsy effects. However, some people he knows will use certain OTC medication to achieve drowsiness. While this is totally, utterly and completely not recommended, it might be a way for some people to get to sleep on board a bus. Talk to your doctor before beginning any medication, as we assume no liability for your misuse of medication. (Unless there really is a medication made specifically for falling asleep on a bus. If there is, please let us know, since Tip Dude has never come across such a thing.)
- Avoid Caffeinated Drinks Before The Bus Ride - While Tip Dude can knock back three espressos and still fall asleep on board a bus, he understands that caffeine actually has an effect on some people. So, if you’re one of these people, don’t drink caffeine if you want to sleep on board a bus.
- Use Your Favorite Drowsy Activity While On Board - When Tip Dude really needed to fall asleep in college, he used to read his Roman history textbook in bed. He imagines you can achieve the same effect on a bus. If you’re actually interested in Roman history, you could try a different type of book, like corporate finance or a C++ programming manual. If you’re turned on by Roman history, corporate finance and C++, then he’d like to meet you. For you only, you can try counting sheep. In binary. Start now. 1, 10, 11, 100, 101, 110, 111, 1000, 1001…
How do you fall asleep on public transportation?
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