For people prone to motion sickness, the travel portion can be the most dreaded part of the whole trip. The dizziness and nausea drain away all the excitement before you even arrive.
The good news is that motion sickness isn’t something you simply have to endure. Understanding why it happens and applying a few preventive measures can make the journey far more comfortable.
Why we get motion sick
Motion sickness happens when the information from your eyes and your inner ear doesn’t match. The inner ear senses movement, but if your eyes are fixed on a stationary nearby point like a book, your brain gets confused and responds with that queasy feeling.
Understanding this mechanism tells you how to handle it: the key is to make what your eyes see and what your body feels more consistent.
Choose your seat and where to look
Sitting where there’s less jolting and where you can see far ahead reduces sickness considerably. In a car that’s the front seat, on a train it’s a seat facing the direction of travel, and on a boat it’s the middle area where there’s the least rocking.
Look toward the horizon or a fixed point in the distance rather than at your phone. Letting your eyes keep up with the actual motion helps your brain reduce the signal conflict.
Prepare before boarding
Don’t travel on a stomach that’s too empty or too full. A light meal, avoiding greasy food and stimulants, keeps your stomach steadier.
If you know you’re prone to it, you can take motion sickness medicine before departure as directed. Fresh ginger or ginger candy is also a natural remedy many find effective.
Handling it when the sickness hits
If you start to feel unwell, breathe deeply and slowly, and open a window to let fresh air in. Airy conditions often soothe the nausea.
Closing your eyes to rest or trying to sleep is also effective, because when your eyes are shut, the signal conflict between your eyes and inner ear eases. Stopping to rest along the way, if possible, also helps your body regain its balance.
Motion sickness shouldn’t be the reason you shy away from travel. With a few simple preparations, you can turn the journey from a source of dread into a normal, even pleasant, part of the trip.