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Jet Lag - 7 Steps To A Successful Trip

Posted on July 17, 2021 by Peter Rogers

Do not let jet lag spoil that much needed holiday trip to paradise or stop you from closing that career enhancing deal you've been working on for months.

Arriving filled with excitement and anticipation is great, but finding that you can't sleep at night, you are tired during the day and you have an upset stomach and a headache can do a lot more than simply take the edge off your journey.

If you are looking for ways of preventing jet lag, or trying to find the ideal jet lag remedy, then here are seven tips to start you in your search.

Clear the decks before your departure.

A much overlooked aspect of jet lag is the part played by anxiety. Running around trying to perform a 1001 last minute work in the week before you fly. Worrying about whether the home will be safe. Sitting up until midnight the night before your flight paying the family bills. Sound familiar?

Plan well in advance and make certain that you've taken care of everything at least three or four days prior to going. Then take it easy, get a lot of rest and set aside time specifically for relaxation.

Start adjusting your bedtime prior to going.

In the 2 weeks before your trip start to gradually adjust your bedtime. If you are flying east, bring your bedtime forward by ten or fifteen minutes each night so that, by the time you leave, you are going to bed about two hours earlier than normal. This may'narrow the gap' between the time at which your body wants to go to bed and the time that the clock says you ought to go to bed at your destination.

Similarly, if you are traveling west, set your bedtime back by ten or fifteen minutes each day.

Reduce you caffeine intake.

Coffee, as well as other caffeinated drinks, both speeds up and slows down your internal body clock, depending on the time of day that you have it. When you are settled into a regular pattern of sleep that this does not necessarily pose too much of a issue, as the consequences can often'balance '. However, as soon as your body clock finds itself at odds with local time the effects of caffeine can be very marked and add considerably to the problems of jet lag.

Avoid Pills.

With the exclusion of any prescribed medication that you normally take, you should avoid sleeping pills, so-called'jet lag' pills and over the counter medication for jet lag. Not only do these have little if any beneficial effect, many can actually add to your issues.

In particular, avoid the frequent temptation to take sleeping pills during your trip. They may well enable you to get to sleep on the aircraft, but they will add to your problems when you arrive at your destination.

Dress comfortably for your flight.

Pick comfortable and loose fitting clothing to travel in and tuck a pair of slippers into your carry-on luggage to wear on board the aircraft. It's wonderful to be able to get dressed up and head out as soon as you reach your destination but nobody will expect you to get dressed up to the nines as you're traveling.

Get out in the sunshine.

As soon as you reach your destination get out into daylight as much as possible during the first couple of days of your trip. Daylight sends strong signals to your body clock and you will discover that it adjusts far faster if it's subjected to the normal cycle of daylight and darkness at your destination. So take advantage of this and do not hide yourself away inside.

Take something special with you.

It can frequently be hard settling in strange surroundings and, in particular, relaxing adequately to fall asleep. So, take a couple of items of special significance on you, perhaps a family photograph or a favorite bedside ornament, to give a little bit of the sense of home.