I Did Half A Xan 13 Hours In Japan

Okay, unpopular opinion alert!

I did half a Xanax on my 13-hour flight to Japan. And honestly? No regrets.

Before you clutch your pearls, hear me out.

The Calm Before the Storm (of Temples)

Everyone talks about pre-trip jitters. The excitement, the packing stress, the “did I turn off the oven?” anxiety.

Mine manifests as pure, unadulterated travel anxiety. Picture it: me, pale, sweating, convinced the plane will plummet into the Pacific.

Spoiler alert: it didn't.

My Zen Garden (in the Sky)

That little half-pill? My personal zen garden. It wasn’t about escaping. It was about embracing.

Embracing the fact that I'm a nervous flyer. Embracing the fact that 13 hours is a LONG time. Embracing the fact that screaming mid-flight is frowned upon.

I watched movies. I even ate the weird airplane food. Without internally combusting.

I think that's a win.

Japan: A Sensory Overload (Without the Overload)

Landing in Japan is…intense. The neon lights, the bustling crowds, the fragrant food stalls. It's a beautiful chaos.

Imagine experiencing that after a red-eye flight, fueled by nothing but overpriced airport coffee and sheer willpower.

I shudder at the thought.

Instead, I arrived feeling…relatively human. I was able to appreciate the meticulously manicured gardens. I successfully navigated the incredibly efficient (and slightly intimidating) train system.

I even bowed correctly. Mostly.

The Judgment-Free Zone (Hopefully)

Look, I'm not advocating popping pills like candy. Medication is a personal choice.

But let's be real, traveling can be stressful! And sometimes, a little something can take the edge off.

Think of it as...a travel hack.

The Great Debate: Xanax vs. Jet Lag

Some people swear by melatonin. Others chug herbal tea.

I chose option "chill". It was my conscious decision.

And you know what? I slept like a baby (for a few hours anyway). I woke up refreshed-ish. Ready to explore.

Ready to tackle Tokyo.

The Conclusion (That Might Offend Some)

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I should have white-knuckled my way through the flight, arriving in Japan a twitching, sleep-deprived mess.

Maybe I should have spent the entire flight worrying.

But I didn't. I chose serenity (or a reasonable facsimile thereof).

And honestly? I think experiencing Japan with a relatively calm mind made all the difference. I noticed more. I appreciated more. I enjoyed more.

So, next time you're facing a long-haul flight and feeling that familiar dread creep in, consider your options. Maybe even consider a tiny, little Xanax. (Talk to your doctor first, obviously.)

You might just find your own zen garden at 30,000 feet. Just promise you won't tell my mom.