Have you ever travelled to a different time zone and found yourself wide awake at 2 a.m. or hungry for breakfast in the middle of the night? It means you are experiencing Jet Lag. While it does not only cloud your brain and drain you of energy but also causes disruption to the body’s natural rhythm and sleep patterns. Sometimes, it takes about 4 days for the body clock to reset itself to the new time zone, and these are days when you want to be outside exploring a new city not curled up in your hotel room with a sleep mask and earplugs.
Well, here are simple ways you can fight Jet Lag during your next trip.
1. Get Some Rest
If you’re flying east, try going to bed earlier – move it up a half hour earlier three days before and after your flight. Do the opposite if you’re travelling west. You can also move your meal times close to the time you expect to have them in your holiday destination time zone. Don’t compromise your sleep by working or packing into the night just before you fly. You will arrive already tired.
2. Stay Hydrated
Drinking lots of water during and after your flight is always a good idea, as it will also help keep your sleep architecture in place and flush your body of any stimulating toxins. The stimulating toxins are the remaining of alcohol or caffeine in the system, therefore it is best advised to avoid them during and after your flight so as to stay hydrated throughout your journey.
3. Book an Overnight Flight if Available
The sooner you start planning your holiday vacation, the more options you will have when it comes to flights. If an overnight flight is available, go ahead and book it! Not only will you be more likely to fall asleep than you would on an afternoon flight, but you’ll be able to have dinner at a normal time and you’ll likely arrive in the morning or afternoon. For these reasons, your body will have an easier time resetting your internal clock.
4. Early Morning Light
Exposure to morning light can help you adjust faster to your earlier time zone. If you are taking a night flight try to expose yourself to the natural light first thing in the mornings few weeks before your trip and turn off the artificial light after 9 pm. For best result, try combining light exposure with exercise.
5. Avoid Junk Food
Eat healthily and stay up smart! Consuming more of healthy, fresh foods before flying will boost your energy levels. Always avoid eating fatty foods that will leave you feeling drained and restless at the same time.
It’s important to make the most of your time away when going on a holiday, particularly for those of us who don’t get the opportunity to go away quite often; therefore if you’re planning a trip soon, why not try out these ways to fight jet lag and see if you can ditch the travel fatigue and grogginess in favour of feeling revitalised, refreshed and ready to enjoy the holiday!