The Fastest Way to Get Rid of Jet Lag
There’s nothing worse than feeling out of sync with the world as you struggle to adjust to a new time zone, especially when you’re on vacation and want to explore a new place. Even though every body is different, there are several ways to help your body adapt faster. Here are 12 helpful tips to help you avoid ruining your trip during jet lag.
Flight time. Your first jet lag protection comes before you even book your ticket: schedule your flight to minimize disruptions to your normal schedule. If you’re flying east, try to leave early in the morning to adjust to the new time zone right away. If you’re flying west, a night flight can help you adjust the time by a few extra hours. Also consider the time and place of any transfers, they can either seriously help you or hurt you – say, if you were hoping to sleep on the flight .
Get enough sleep before your trip. One of the best ways to combat jet lag is to make sure you’re well rested before you even board the plane. Don’t delay packing and preparing for your trip at the last minute so you stay up all night before you leave.
Before leaving, start adjusting to the new time zone. If you can, start slowly adjusting your sleep schedule in the days leading up to your departure so you don’t make drastic and drastic changes to your daily routine. Even adjusting your body rhythms an hour or two before departure can speed up the process once you reach your destination.
To drink a lot of water. Keeping your body hydrated can also help you feel less lethargic.
Get some exercise. A little physical activity after arrival will help wake you up and get your blood pumping so you can get your energy back before bedtime.
Avoid alcohol and don’t overuse caffeine. Both can exacerbate jet lag by disrupting your sleep. While caffeine can be a great way to kick start a sluggish morning, don’t drink it late in the day or it can make jet lag harder, further disrupting your sleep.
Eat lighter foods. Heavy foods can make you feel lethargic, so stick to lighter foods.
Get some sunshine. Exposure to natural light will help adjust your body’s internal clock. This is especially important in the morning and later in the day when you start to feel sleepy.
Don’t overdo it on the first day. Once you arrive at your destination, it can be tempting to stay up all day and night so you can make the most of your trip. However, this will only make it harder to adapt to the new time zone. Instead, relax on the first day. Try to go to bed at a reasonable time and get a good night’s sleep the first night.
Avoid daytime naps and set an alarm for the morning. There is nothing worse than sleeping through the day while you can explore a new place, and it will also prevent your body from getting used to its changed schedule. Set your alarm for the morning and do your best to get up as soon as it rings. And resist the temptation to take a 30-minute nap in the afternoon, unless you know you can stretch it out into several hours. You don’t want to wake up from that “short nap” at 10 p.m.
If you have trouble sleeping at night, try a natural sleep aid like melatonin. This supplement is not a one-stop sleep aid , but it can help you fall asleep faster and sleep longer.
Repeat these steps before returning home. Just as you started adjusting to a new time zone before you left, you must repeat the process before returning home. This will help ease the transition and reduce the likelihood that you will experience jet lag upon your return when you are already depressed enough to end your journey.