It’s called “raw-dogging” and it involves what to do – or rather, not do – on a flight.

To be more precise, it’s a challenge where you go without entertainment on a flight: no movies, no audio, no games, not even a book or newspaper. Just you and the blank screen or flight map ahead of you and the window next to you.

In more extreme cases, this also includes no food, no water, no sleep, not even a bathroom break.

Sounds like a bad idea? Maybe.

Here are some of thoughts on raw-dogging a flight – the pros, cons, and what you can do to stay healthy while flying.

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How I travel

When I first read about raw-dogging, my first reaction was, “Wait, people are just discovering that you don’t have to do anything on a flight?!”

Going without entertainment is what I’ve been doing on flights for years. Mostly I’ll do so on short- or medium-haul flights, occasionally out of necessity, but mostly out of choice.

On long-haul flights, however, I’ll choose to do a mix.

Whenever I do decide to raw-dog a flight, I opt to do the modified version: no entertainment, apart from the window and the flight map. I’ve only ever done the extreme version once, by accident, on a 3-hour flight, and I swore I’d never do it again.

So what are the pros and cons to raw-dogging a flight? Let’s find out!

Pros

Digital detox

According to a psychiatrist interviewed for this article, raw-dogging gets us away from our overly stimulated world. Instead, it allows our minds to wander and fosters creativity.

I’d have to agree. Ever since I was a child, I’ve used the time on planes to create entire worlds and plotlines for stories.

Who knows what amazing things you’ll come up with while zoning out on a plane?

Meditation

The same article also talks about the meditative benefits of raw-dogging, calling it a “sort of impromptu meditation session.”

Meditation has a host of benefits. I even remember one man telling me how in the 1980s (yes, before the individual screens in front of each seat), he had to rush back to the United States after his father passed unexpectedly. The long flight home gave him the opportunity to process and come to terms with his father’s death.

Self-discipline

Like meditation, self-discipline has several benefits.

Self-discipline can take a number of forms: not buying that overly expensive and needless souvenir, not eating ice cream every day, exercising regularly, etc.

Limiting screen time is another way of practicing self-discipline, and so why not do so on the plane? Chances are, you may feel a sense of accomplishment afterwards.

Less to pack

If you plan on going without electronic devices (at least some of them) for your entire trip, this could free up room in your bags for other items instead – and save you from the anxiety of keeping track of all your expensive electronics.

If I can get away with only brining my phone on a trip and not worrying about a laptop, e-reader, tablet, extra monitor, and even a second laptop (and yes, I’ve all of these items with me before), it not only saves me space in my bags for other things, but it also causes me less stress by not having to constantly worry about keeping my devices safe.

There’s something to be said for minimalism, after all.

Relaxation

Unless you’re a member of the flight crew, the truth is, there’s nothing you can do to control your flight. While this complete lack of control can be unsettling, I find looking at it from another perspective is helpful:

Lean into the lack of control. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.

Cons

Not good for nervous flyers

Some people are nervous flyers; I used to be one of them myself. One girl I know gets faint during take-off, which is how her nervousness manifests itself – and she’s a regular traveler!

While some nervous flyers have argued that raw-dogging is a way for them to mentally get over the fear of flying, this method isn’t for everyone. Some people may prefer to distract their minds through entertainment or work, and that’s completely valid.

Using the time to catch up

Modern lives are busy. We have a lot of things to juggle – jobs, family, friends, chores, you name it.

When you’re stuck on a plane, you’re given a few hours which you can use to catch up on whatever you need to do. I’ve finished work projects with critical deadlines on planes. I’ve done homework on planes. Heck, it’s a particularly useful time to finally get through the reading for my book club.

If you need the extra few hours to get something done, why not? Sure, we all need to relax. But I, for one, would rather relax on the beach when I get to Hawaii than on the plane itself.

Health issues

This is the big one.

The more extreme version of raw-dogging – in which travelers eschew food, water, sleep, and movement – can pose some serious health risks. (See below.)

This can be especially dangerous if you have underlying medical conditions. Consult your doctor before undertaking any drastic change, such as enduring long periods with food or sleep.

No trend or challenge is worth risking your health.

How to stay healthy on a long-haul flight

I love to travel and I’d like to keep doing so for as long as possible. What I don’t want to do is endanger my health while travelling – which is why experts warn about the extreme version of “raw-dogging,” especially on long-haul flights.

The extreme form of raw-dogging involves going without food, water, sleep, or moving around during a flight – not even going to the bathroom.

This can be a very bad, even fatal, idea. The pressures and changes our bodies undergo on a flight mean we should be even more careful about going without the things that we need even on the ground.

Here’s how to stay healthy on a long-haul flight.

Drink water

Did you know that there’s a lot less moisture in the air on a plane compared to the air we normally breathe? This can lead to dehydration.

Being well-hydrated is critical to our overall health, and this is no less true on a plane, including short-haul flights. I once went without water on a 3-hour flight and the experience was so uncomfortable, I’ve never done that again.

No matter the length of the flight, be sure to drink plenty of water or other hydrating beverages.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to those who like to consume adult beverages, but you might want to avoid alcohol on a long-haul flight, as it could lead to health or other issues.

Eat if you need to

While there are benefits to fasting, and airplane food may not be the most savory food out there, you will need to eat at some point.

If not eating is going to cause you to be faint, dizzy, or cause your blood sugar levels to fall to dangerously low levels, eat. No trend or challenge is worth your health.

Move around

Being seated for hours can put anyone at risk of suffering from deep-vein thrombosis, which can be deadly.

It’s best to move around the cabin every once in a while. You can even do exercises in your seat to help stimulate blood flow.

Go to the bathroom

If you gotta go, you gotta go. Did you know that not using the bathroom can also lead to health problems and even death? Famed 16^th century astronomer Tycho Brahe died from holding his pee in too long.

Plus, going to the bathroom has the added benefit of helping you move around, which can help prevent deep-vein thrombosis.

Sleep

Sleeping might not be the easiest thing to accomplish on a flight, but it’s worth a try.

You don’t need me to tell you that getting enough sleep is healthy. But this is especially true if you need to be alert when you arrive at your destination.

If you’re a solo traveler like me, being aware of your surroundings when you arrive at a new location is a basic part of staying safe. After all, you only have yourself to rely on.

Also consider what activity you need to do when you arrive at your destination. Childhood visits to my grandparents, for instance, involved an 8-hour plane ride, followed by a 3-hour drive. Since he had to do the driving, my dad would always sleep on the entire flight so that when we arrived, he’d be ready to take the wheel. It wouldn’t have been safe enough for him to drive if he hadn’t gotten the necessary amount of sleep.

There you have it! A few thoughts on raw-dogging a flight. Have you tried to raw-dog a flight or will you be trying it on your next trip? Let me know in the comments!