Anonymous wrote:Ignore the people who are recommended drugs. That is just masking the symptoms of the problem. (Poorly).

For the record, that is what I think as a general matter (about sleeping pills) but I feel differently in this flight situation.

You need a good manager in the office to run things on Friday. It sounds like you don't trust the people in your off to not slack off on Fridays.

Address the trust deficit or have an enforcer to steer the ship on Fridays.

So I do a similar schedule - with a few important tweaks.

(1) Try a 6am to LA instead if you can do it - you still get in pretty early but it’s less havoc on the time zones.

(2) There are several flights with viasat (or similar high quality - i.e. not Gogo) internet. Take a 7, 8 or 9am flight on Friday back to DC. Work from the plane. Use google hangouts if you have to make a call in flight. (But obviously do it rarely). Bonus points you are home for dinner.

(3) Fly biz class on the worst leg. For me it’s the trip out (it’s longer), but I also do the 7am back to DC.

The travelrest pillow with the fuzzy cover has made sleep more possible than it used to be for me on an airplane. I need a lot of neck support, and the regular travel pillows straight-up do not work.

Anonymous wrote:Ignore the people who are recommended drugs. That is just masking the symptoms of the problem. (Poorly).

Nonsense. If the melatonin helps you sleep on the plane then it alleviates the problem, it doesn’t mask it.

Ignore the people who are recommended drugs. That is just masking the symptoms of the problem. (Poorly).

Have you tried ambien OP? 5mg is the key to a successful red eye for me. Have you tried upgrading or paying for first? Does that make a difference?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if you fell asleep while waiting for takeoff that’s 4 hours. That’s not good / safe on a weekly level. I agree with don’t work or at least telework on fridays.

That’s not how timezones work.

Yes it is. An eastbound red eye is only four hours of rest if you sleep takeoff to touchdown. . Jetstream shortens the flight time, plus you lose the 3 hours.

Melatonin before your flight. Sounds like a brutal schedule but if you can train your body to sleep on the plane, that will make it a lot better.

Anonymous wrote:Even if you fell asleep while waiting for takeoff that’s 4 hours. That’s not good / safe on a weekly level. I agree with don’t work or at least telework on fridays.

That’s not how timezones work.

You MUST be off on Friday. If you don't have an employee who can cover while you are only available to put out major fires, then you need to hire one.

You are too exhausted to see that you can let go. Your clients will absolutely understand. Or, take alternate Fridays and Mondays. Or alternate Fridays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

I would fly back on Friday and work on the plane. I work with a lot of people who have to fly to LA regularly and they all do their best to avoid red eyes back to the East Coast.

I would just do emails on Friday and not go in to the office unless an emergency. I would take melatonin before the flight, and nap Friday afternoon.

Anonymous wrote:I normally don't suggest a sleeping pill, but perhaps you could discuss it with a doctor.

+1. And telework on Fridays. Otherwise you will completely burn out.