The 21stcenturyhas been ticking along for more than a decade now, but thousands of people still suffer from motion sickness without any real remedy. This is the kind of childhood affliction most people expect to grow out of only to realise that no such thing happened and they still suffer every time they take a bus trip.
There are many different remedies and gadgets on sale that can potentially help out with travel sickness, but no real outright cure has been found yet. As such, it’s no surprise that for many travelers just the idea of having to travel by coach on any trip less than 15 minutes might seem like a fate in many ways worse than death!
And while a definite cure might still be decades away, many years of research have helped at least identify a variety of tricks and tips for dealing with travel sickness. Any professional transfer company like Britannia Coaches should of course be sensitive to the comfort of its passengers and show understanding and desire to help. Some tricks will of course work better than others, but by discarding any old theories and keeping only the ones with a good track record, it’s completely realistic to approach long journeys on buses with a new perspective and confidence.
Here are a few of the most effective travel sickness prevention tricks and tips proven by years of research and experience:
State of Mind
First and most important, if you get into a bus 100% convinced you will start feeling sick as soon as the vehicle sets off, there is a big chance this is exactly what will happen. It’s never easy to change a mindset, but in the case of travel sickness a large part of it has been proven purely psychological and a more relaxed state of mind can bring a noticeable relief. Train yourself to stay positive and you’re already one step ahead on a much more pleasant trip.
Front Seat Position
It’s the fast-moving scenery and objects playing tricks on the brain that actually causes motion sickness, which is why it’s common knowledge that sitting at the front and looking through the front windows can make a huge difference. Objects that are coming toward you are interpreted very differently from the ones passing by sideways – the latter are always the ones causing the strong feeling of nausea.
Eat Lightly
Some of the worst triggers of motion sickness are eating way too much or being hungry. As such, finding the perfect balance between these two can save you hours of nausea. Make sure you’ve eaten enough and you’re feeling satisfied but avoid anything that will make you feel overfed. Focusing on only light foods and avoiding too much sugar, fat or spicy foods will ensure a much more enjoyable journey.
Choose Carefully Your Snacks
It’s important to bring water and snacks, especially if the trip is a long one, but once again be careful what you choose by all means. Strong flavours and spicy foods with strong smells will not do any favours to your stomach. Fruits, breads and light sweets are generally a safe choice when travelling.
Dress Appropriately
Can travel sickness be influenced by the clothes you wear? Of course it can – it is all connected to your body temperature and comfort levels. If you overdress, you will spend the whole trip sweating yourself to being sick. And it’s the same for dressing too lightly and being cold or feeling generally uncomfortable. Dress appropriately and worry about your looks when you arrive!
Ensure Plenty of Fresh Air
Fresh air is the worst enemy of travel sickness – so you need plenty of it! Be sure to get as much fresh air as possible during the trip by using the AC, opening the windows or asking the driver to stop from time to time.
Avoid Screens and Print
The final tip is well known to many people – reading in a vehicle is a real enemy of travel sickness victims! The fact many don’t realise however is that looking at any screen – as in the screen of tablets and smartphones, triggers basically the same reaction. The image on a screen is very likely to bounce up and down and sway which will very quickly cause nausea. The best course of action is to avoid reading or looking at screens when travelling and instead passengers can listen to the radio, enjoy the company of their fellow travellers or take a sound nap.