Seven Tips for Dealing with Jet Lag

Holidays abroad are brilliant, but when you travel long distances, the dread of jet lag can quickly snap the fun out of it.

Jet lag is caused by travelling across multiple time zones in a short space of time, which throws off your circadian rhythm. It can carry symptoms that take its toll on the body. How bad you feel is dependent on the amount of time zones you pass, as well as your general health and age. The more zones you cross, the worse you’ll feel.

Those who fly around the world frequently may find they can adapt to the different time zones and can snap out of it more easily. However, for those who are new to this feeling, here are seven tips to help you overcome jet lag.

How do I deal with jet lag?

How bad your jet lag feels is very dependent on how you prepare yourself before you fly. Here are seven things you should do before your next trip:

Sleep before you travel

There’s nothing worse than going on an eight-hour flight to a new time zone, without getting a good sleep beforehand.

If you’re travelling early in the morning, try your hardest to clear your schedule. Ensure that you’re giving yourself plenty of time to get eight hours sleep before you set off. A good nap is the perfect remedy to combat jet lag.

Luxurious mattresses, soft mattresses, or large bed bases can also be a massive help before you go abroad, as they provide you with the ideal platform for a comfortable night’s sleep. Investing in the best luxury mattress you can afford, will pay off in the long run as you will feel relaxed and properly supported as you sleep.

Arrive in your new time zone as early as possible

When booking your flight, make sure that you enter your new time zone as early as you possibly can.

By arriving in the morning, the daylight will aid your fight to stay awake until the evening and adjust to your new time zone.

However, if you’re travelling for a specific event or business requirement, then you should try to arrive a few days early, as this give you time to overcome your jet lag in the meantime so you can be on your best form when the event arrives.

Break up your trip

If you’re looking for a cheaper way to travel to your destination, then consider breaking up your journey.

By having a stopover on your journey to your destination, this gives you a chance to slowly adapt to different time zones one at a time, which will make the impact of jet lag more bearable.

Don’t take any stimulants

When you’re travelling to different time zones, the more sleep you get the better.

So, when it comes to indulging in any stimulates such as coffee and energy drinks, then they’re certainly not going to help you sleep. Stimulants dehydrate you and can dramatically affect your quality of sleep.

No pre-flight alcohol

Even though a pre-flight drinking session in the airport may feel like the true beginning of your holiday, it can also be one of the most naïve things you can do when going on a long journey.

Just like coffee and energy drinks, alcohol can dehydrate the body and lead to an interrupted, low quality sleep.

A low-quality sleep can make it twice as hard to overcome jet lag.

Stay away from sleeping pills

When it comes to sleeping whilst travelling through different time zones, you’ve got to let it occur naturally, as sleeping pills aren’t going to benefit you in the slightest.

Yes, they’ll guarantee that you nod off, but they won’t help you at all in your battle against jet lag. In addition to this, sleeping pills induce a comatose state, which can lead to blood clots whilst airborne.

Exercise before travel

If you’re flying early the next morning, it’s recommended that you conduct a light workout in the early evening. This will help you have a high quality, deep sleep the night before your flight.

If your flight is early in the evening and time is available, doing a workout a few hours ahead of the flight can help you sleep whilst airborne.

So, there you are – may ways to overcome those lethargic feelings of jet lag. By taking these tips on board you should be able to adapt to a new time zone quicker than expected, allowing you to make the most of your holiday.