How to Overcome Jet Lag
Jet lag is usually experienced when traveling across 5 time zones or more. The reason that you experience it is because you are crossing time zones in a shorter time than our body’s natural rhythm would need to adjust to the new time zone.
Symptoms of Jet Lag
Some common symptoms are: insomnia, exhaustion, disorientation, dizziness, mood swings and loss of appetite. Jet lag can be compared to being slightly intoxicated for some people.
These symptoms are quite often more severe when traveling eastward. For example, you are more likely to experience severe jet lag symptoms when flying from North America to Europe, then vice versa. For some reason older people tend to experience more severe symptoms of jet lag when flying westward. The older you get, the more likely you are to experience the symptoms of jet lag. And children are actually able to overcome it quickly and easily.
Planning Around Jet Lag
Take the symptoms into consideration when planning your trip. When arriving at your destination, don’t rent a car for the first few days. Maybe stay in a hotel close to some attractions so that you don’t have to venture far. Also a good idea to rest up so that you can enjoy the rest of your vacation. And the same for when you return home. Give yourself a few days to get back into your normal routine, before you have to do anything important.
Dealing with the Symptoms of Jet Lag
When you are flying, try to sleep on the plane. Earplugs and an eye mask can help eliminate distractions on the plane. Try not to take any medications to help you fall asleep, and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Make sure to drink lots of water. If you’re unable to sleep, or if you get woken up, get up and walk around the plane cabin and do some stretching.
Setting your watch to the time zone where you are landing as soon as you get on the plane can help you to mentally prepare for the time change.
When you arrive at your destination try to adapt to the normal routine as quickly and effortlessly as possible. If you arrive in the morning, have breakfast, even if your internal clock says its dinner time, and avoid having a nap. Try to go to bed around the same time you normally would. Also spending lots of time outside in the sun can help you adjust more quickly.
It is said that to completely recover from jet lag it takes one day per time zone that you crossed. So if you crossed 5 time zones it would take 5 days to completely recover. Most people will feel better after just one day. Getting a good rest, healthy meal and keeping hydrated will help you feel better quickly.
