How To Fight Jet Lag
Having your body make adjustments to a new time zone after a long-haul flight can, sometimes, feel like the hardest job in the world. It’s true that jet lag affects people differently based on age and the state of one’s health but unless you’re a human version of superman your body is affected after traveling from one-time zone to another. Unfortunately, jet lag is unavoidable however there are things that you can do to minimize the symptoms.
7 Ways To Fight Jet Lag:
1. Leave Home Well Rested
Starting off a trip, of any kind, already exhausted is not an ideal situation. Make it a priority to arrive at the airport without bags under your eyes. Getting a good night’s sleep before the day of your trip will work wonders. Depending on the flexibility of your day to day schedule, do your best to relax your agenda a few days before your flight so it’s easier to adjust upon reaching your destination. By this I mean, being lax on the times that you eat as well as the time that your head hits the pillow will make the adjustment to a new time zone easier if your body is already slightly out of it’s normal program.
2. Overnight Flight
If possible, opt for an overnight flight. You are much more likely to sleep on a night flight as opposed to one that is smack dab in the middle of the afternoon. In addition, you will eat dinner at a relatively decent hour and, depending on how long your flight is, landing with the sunrise is a plus as the sun will be an instant mood booster.
3. Avoid The Bar
You know that voice inside your head that whispers order a glass of wine - don’t listen to it. For real. Drinking alcohol when at a high altitude completely dehydrates your body which will make jet lag that much worse. Hold off until you get to the hotel bar, your body will thank you. In addition to avoiding the bar there is one thing that you should saying NO to: caffeine.
Even though a venti coffee may seem like a solid idea, it’s not. Avoid caffeine, of any type, while changing time zones.
4. Sleeping Pills
Ok guys look, this should be pretty common sense but let’s break this down. If you have not experimented with sleeping pills before this would not be the time to give them a test run. Depending on your bodies reaction to the pill, you could wake up feeling so groggy that you wish someone would carry you off the plane. If you are looking for an alternative sleeping aid, pick up “sleepy time” (chamomile) tea before arriving at the airport. It will be soothing and will help you get some shut eye! If you are a sleeping pill pro; this is your reminder to use wisely.
5. Pre-set Your Watch
For those of you that actually use your watch to tell the time and not just as a fashion statement – I applaud you. I also suggest that you change your watch to the current time in your destination before take-off that way you can mentally begin your transition into a new time zone.
6. Get Some Exercise
If you read that headline and thought to yourself, “yeah, not happening” you aren’t alone. Getting in exercise upon reaching your final destination may or may not sound like hell on earth but I’m telling you it’s extremely beneficial. I am by no means suggesting that you go from baggage claim to CrossFit but moving your body to get your blood flowing will help to fight jetlag.
7. Stay Awake
If you can push through, staying awake until an early local bedtime is the best case scenario. The sooner your body adjusts to the new time zone the quicker you will be able to fully enjoy the destination.
