car sickness

How to outsmart motion-sickness before it outsmarts you. A survival guide for women who love to travel but hate feeling queasy. Motion sickness is real. It’s sneaky, it’s annoying, and it doesn’t care if you’re crossing the Caribbean or riding shotgun on your sister’s “shortcut” through the mountains. But the good news? You can outmaneuver it—no barf bag required. Let’s break it down so you can keep your dignity (and your breakfast) wherever your passport takes you. Pick Your Seat Like a Pro        Where you sit can make or break your journey. In the car? Shotgun only. Let someone else drive while you dominate the AC dial like a queen.  I also find that laying down across the backseat with eyes closed helps if this is an option for you. On a boat? Stay near the middle or down low—close to the waterline. That’s the sweet spot for less wobble. In a plane? Sit over the wings. It’s the steadiest ride, and you can pretend you’re flying first class if you close your eyes and believe hard enough.        Tip: Rest your head against the seat. No bobble-heading allowed. Your inner ear is already confused—don’t give it extra drama.  There are even eye covers with attached straps that wrap around the headrest for extra anchoring.  Bonus if you dose off, they keep you from bobble-heading.   Keep your eyes up (AKA on the Horizon)         Your eyes and your inner ear need to get on the same page.        Staring at your phone, reading your book club pick, or watching videos about tiny house makeovers? Nope. Recipe for disaster.         Instead: Gaze out at something stable, like the horizon, a mountain range, or that overly relaxed guy in a Hawaiian shirt who clearly doesn’t get motion sick. Skip scrolling. You’ll survive 30 minutes without TikTok. Or reading travel blogs.  Probably. Give Yourself Some Breathing Room        Fresh air isn’t just for dramatic sighs. Crack a window. Hit that AC vent like your life depends on it. Use a mini fan or wave a hand held fan like a Spanish dancer. Whatever works. Keep your cool—literally. Overheating is motion sickness’s BFF. Eat Like You’ve Got a Nervous Stomach (Because You Do)       Skip the burrito. Trust me. Stick to bland, dry snacks: crackers, toast, pretzels. Basically preschool snacks. Avoid greasy, spicy, or “mystery” foods from the truck stop before you hit the road. Stay hydrated, but ease up on the caffeine and cocktails.       Bonus Tip: Don’t skip meals. An empty stomach = a grumpy stomach = bad news at 30,000 feet. When Nature Fails, Let Science Step In        Sometimes you need backup. Here are your options: Dramamine or Bonine: Cheap, effective, and possibly nap-inducing. Take them before the wheels or waves start moving—usually it takes 30 minutes to get the ingredients into your system. Scopolamine Patch: Stick it behind your ear, and voilà—you’ve got 72 hours of protection. Ginger Everything: Ginger tea, ginger ale, ginger candies… if it tastes like a holiday cookie and keeps you from hurling, I call that a win. Acupressure Bands: Little elastic wristbands that press on a magic point in your wrist. Science-ish. I LOVE these!  Put them on when you need them, take them off when you don’t.  It is easy to always have a pair in your bag. Distract Yourself, Darling        Sometimes the best remedy is a distraction with good taste. Music. Podcasts. Audiobooks. Singing show tunes badly. Chatting with a friend (or the random guy next to you who has “Opinions” on everything. Guided meditation apps or just counting passing cows if you’re on a road trip. Drive the car.  The best distraction around—if you’re doing the driving, your brain already knows where the vehicle is going—instant cure for motion-sickness.        Just don’t focus on the motion. Your body’s doing enough weird things already. When in Doubt: Nap It Out        If all else fails, close your eyes and pretend you’re anywhere else. Lay back. Shut down. Imagine you’re reclining on a beach in Bora Bora instead of careening through Tuscany in a minivan. Sleep through the storm. Motion sickness rarely wins when you’re unconscious. Bonus Weird Tricks That Sometimes Work Chew gum. Something about it fools your brain into calming down. Press a cold soda can (ice back or frozen bag of peas) to the back of your neck. Don’t ask, just try it. Pack a little lavender oil or peppermint to sniff—just enough to distract you from your own misery.  Grapefruit oil is a soothing option too. Note: Motion sickness doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for travel. Don’t let it convince you otherwise! It just means your inner ear is dramatic, and your brain likes to fight with your eyeballs.    You’ve got this. You’re smarter than your stomach. You’re cooler than your cold sweats. And your stomach can shift to butterflies of excitement rather than turning you green on that ferry ride through the fjords or that 4×4 through the Serengeti!   Happy travels!