Why Do We Feel Tired on Long Journeys?
Have you ever wondered why you feel tired after a long journey, even when you've been sitting the whole time?
Research has found that feeling tired is actually a symptom of motion sickness — something more of us experience than we may realize.
Almost everyone will become motion sick if the motion is strong enough. And about one person in three is believed to be very sensitive to motion sickness.
Even if you don't feel sick, research has found that, while passengers mostly stay still when traveling, their brains are working hard to process the motion of the vehicle they're in — and they may feel a mismatch between what their senses are telling them and what their bodies expect to feel.
Changes in speed, turning corners, and stopping and starting are motions that our bodies are not really expecting or used to, and these can add up to make us feel unwell.
Some people may experience symptoms of motion sickness faster than others. But it has been found that the longer you travel, the more likely you are to feel sick.
Even the activities we choose to do while traveling can have an effect on how we feel. Passing the time by reading a book, watching a film or looking at social media can create further sensory confusion, as our attention is no longer focused on processing the vehicle's motion.
To reduce the effects of motion sickness, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends sitting as far forward in a vehicle as possible, as this is where less motion is felt.
It also recommends getting a window seat, lying down if possible, and drinking water and eating small amounts of food regularly. It can also help to close your eyes and sleep — or, if you can't sleep, try looking at the horizon.
And if you can't lie down, a 2019 study found that just tilting your seat back will help.
