Your legs are cramped, your neck sore, your throat is dry and you're usually either too hot, or too cold. And ever since most of the big boys stopped in-flight meal services, things seem to be spiraling even further downward on the pleasure scale. But regardless of the discomfort involved with this necessary part of travel, for the love of it all, we are usually more than willing to step on that plane and put ourselves through this ordeal. 

And yet there's almost always a silver lining to everything, even in regards to this darker aspect of globe drifting. Believe it or not, there are ways that we can find relative happiness, although it's still just a glimmer of comfort, when it comes to flying. 

After taking into account my personal flying experiences, as well as reading forums and websites online to see what works for others, I've managed to narrow these various ways down to a select few. Here are 3 simple tips that could help you have a more enjoyable ride.

My First and Foremost Favorite of them all...
Tip #1 - Protect Yourself from Dehydration

Most 'tips lists' will save the best tip for last. I love this tip so much that it has to go first. So at the risk of being called names, it's very important to keep yourself moisturized. Yes, I said it...moisturized.

Airplane cabins are dry. The higher you ascend, the more dehydrated your body becomes. The air that is circulated through the cabin, albeit cold, will suck the moisture right out of you.

Take preventative measures by carrying on a few key items with you. Lotion to keep your skin happy, lip-balm to prevent cracking, a bottle of water or liquids to drink regularly (this can be refilled by flight attendants), and my favorite...eye-drops. Trust me, your bloodshot, dry eyes will thank you. Also, if your flight is extra long, you could bring your own toothpaste and toothbrush. Using these when you're halfway there will help freshen you up and keep you comfortable. I know this all sounds excessive, I thought so myself when I first heard this, but once I tried it, all of these items made a world of difference, and they can even be bought in tiny travel-friendly sizes, this way the agents at security checkpoints won't have to grapple you to the ground to seize from your possession that suspiciously oversized bottle of Clear-Eyes.

Things to avoid (if you can help it): Coffee, tea and dunh dunh duuuunnnh...alcohol. Although they are liquids, these deliciously wondrous things will dehydrate you even more. Of course, the thought of no caffeine for some us...ahem, myself...for any extended period of time, can be freaky enough just thinking about let alone actually living it. So take this advice with a grain of salt, (which by the way can also help with dehydration, not that there's any reasonably palatable way to consume a handful of salt in mid air.)

Anyway, moving on to...
Tip #2 - Keep the Blood Flowing

Unless you're flying First Class, and even then at times, airplane seats are notoriously cramped for space. I rode a plane once to Thailand where it literally felt like my knees were jammed up against my chin the entire flight there. Okay, that's overly dramatic, but you know what I'm trying to say...when those 'fasten your seat belt' lights are turned off, stretch your legs and move around!

What are some things to do? Take off your shoes, this can keep your feet happy. Elevate your legs to allow the blood to flow. And never mind the grumpy guy at the end of the row who refuses to budge whenever you stand, get out of your seat and walk around. Some attendants will also encourage you to do stretches. I've been on a flight where an 'airplane workout video' would play on one of its channels. Of course, you're not going to be doing pilates in the aisle way, but even so there are some simple stretching exercises you can do at your seat. 

And not to freak you out or anything, but when your body is physically kept in an extreme prolonged state of inactivity with impaired blood circulation, this could lead to some potentially serious complications. Stagnant blood in the veins equals clotting, which in turn could lead to deep-vein thrombosis, i.e. very, very painful. Alright, so again this is the extreme, but it doesn't hurt, actually it feels even better, to just take a few minutes here and there to get up and stretch your legs. 

And finally...
Tip#3 - Sleep During the Flight

The plane won't stop dropping, that kid won't stop kicking your seat back and why does it have to be so stinking bright in here! Without a doubt, tip #3 is the climb to Mt. Everest of comfortable flight tips. But especially on those extremely long or overnight flights, this tip can be key in whether or not you'll have a pleasant start to your trip. And given some advance thought, you can get good sleep during the flight, even without those sleeping pills. 

One thing to consider ahead of time is what you wear. It's true, wearing a business suit can sometimes get you special treatment, but it definitely won't help you sleep better. Instead wear comfortable clothes and bring an extra pair of socks for when your toes get cold, (because you're gonna have your shoes off, remember?) Use the pillow and blanket provided, don't just stuff them in the seat pocket in front of you, or even better yet, invest in a water or neck pillow, because those items can make a huge difference. And if you have the option of picking your seat in advance, choose a window seat as this will provide you with something to lean on so you don't make the passenger next to you feel violated. You could even pick a seat in the wing section of the plane as these tend to be a little more stable than the rest.

And now we'd like to ask you: What do you do to have a more comfortable flight?

It's true, when you are traveling, there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. But especially at the beginning of the trip, feelings like these can be trying, and all the more so for those of us who are extremely social by nature.  

I do not claim to be an expert on the matter, but the question posed raised a lot of thoughts in my mind. In my small opinion, here are just 3 tips that I've found helpful when dealing with those occasional feelings of loneliness. 

Tip #1, Stay in Touch with the Tribe at Home

Granted, it can be hard. After 3 days of sloshing your way through a muddy rainforest with a 45 lb. sack of useless junk on your back, the last thing you can think of doing is phoning home, but remember, even though E.T. had some great adventures out on his own, making new friends and going places on flying bicycles, he never lost sight of the importance of staying in touch. 

Personally, I know it seems easier to put whatever is going on at home on pause, just disconnect, or let it all go. But often times, when you've been out on the road alone and you're starting to feel lonely, you might look around and begin to think you're surrounded by strangers who don't even see you, let alone care about you. 

Of course, that's probably not how these people really feel about you, (we'll get back to that later), but even if that's true, don't forget that there is still a whole tribe of friends, family and followers back at home all rooting for you and your safe return. In fact, they're probably wondering where you are, whether or not you made it to Ulaanbataar from St. Petersburg alive, and why on EARTH haven't they heard from you yet. Dropping your home fans a little e-mail, (or Twitter, Skype, Facebook 'em, whatever...), and hearing from them in response, will remind you that there are people in this world who see you and really care about you. 

Tip #2, Entertain Yourself & Be Creative  

An idle mind can play some wicked tricks on you, so you need to keep it busy. Bring a book, preferably a really fat one, but 'interesting' is probably a more important prerequisite of its contents, something that will keep you company, talk to you on those lonely nights and fill in during those inevitable down times when you feel like you've done every possible activity within a 50 mile radius. 

Often times globe drifters will leave a trail of books behind them, trading off reading material with other travelers as they cross paths trekking around the planet. Some cafes, libraries or hostels will have a little shelf for fair trade offs where you can take a book for free if you leave one behind. Of course, err on the safe side and ask before swapping. 

If you really can't imagine burying your head in words when you just paid thousands of dollars to leave school behind, then get creative, put your mind to work in other ways. Pick up a sketchbook and a set of graphic pencils, or a watercolor set to record your visual experiences in slow time. Invest in a little digital camera and sign up for a Flickr account. Write! Moleskin notepads have a way of inspiring the inner journalist in us all. Some globe drifters will bring a small guitar, or learn an instrument. In whatever way you see fit, keep that little mind of yours moving. The last thing you need is for it to be so bored with itself that it tries to bury you in an imaginary world of solitary confinement while your standing at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

And finally, Tip #3, Connect, Connect, Connect

Reach out! To other travelers, to the locals, to the stray dog that won't stop following you to your beach hut on Boracay. It may be difficult, especially if you're pretty reserved by nature. You may even look around and wonder, “Why isn't anyone talking to me?” Chances are, they may be thinking the same thing. But personally, I think the biggest help in dispelling all feelings of loneliness is  reaching out and connecting with those around you.

Don't be afraid of the locals! Even if you can't speak the language, don't hesitate to try and communicate, you'd be surprised at how much you can get across by using sign language and sound effects. In general, the locals you meet will be curious about you and where you are from, and they will try their best to make sure you leave their area with a positive impression.

I've also found that staying in places where there is a common area for people to meet, i.e. hostels or hostel-type areas, is a great way to connect with other travelers. And these don't have to be dirty, dark places, there's lots of clean, safe and perfectly located budget accommodations with great online reviews. Talk to the old-timers there, they're the ones sitting behind the check-in desk playing cards with the staff, ask them where they've been in the area and what they've done. Welcome the newbies, and invite some of the interesting ones out on short trips around the area with you. And if you're part of a global social group, look if there's a chapter in the part of the world where you're in. Make connections, you can always take a break from the social stuff and find yourself a nice quiet spot whenever you want, after all you are ultimately traveling solo.

And if all else fails, you could always adopt that stray dog for the time being.

And now we'd like to ask you: How do you deal with the occasional bouts of loneliness when traveling or with life in general?