Tips and tricks to overcome jet lag and acclimate your body to a new time zone after flying.
Everyone gets it and nobody likes it: jet lag. Jet lag, also known as desynchronosis, happens when, via air travel, you've crossed time zones rapidly. You may feel tired and disoriented, unable to concentrate and your sleeping patterns are disrupted as a result of your body still wanting to abide by your old zone's times. Naturally, the National Air and Space Association, your body will take one day for every hour difference for your body to recuperate. As traveler's body make the attempt to adjust to the new time difference, stimuli, and environment, the body goes through several coping mechanisms and there are several remedies, both used before and after travel that can assist you in this change.
Studies have shown that with dehydration, the body loses essential vitamins during long flights. To combat this, start a vitamin regiment of Vitamin C and Vitamin B - both found in popular multivitamins that can be purchased over the counter. Start this 2 weeks before your flight to immerse the vitamins in your system and combat potential illness and fatigue post-flight.
Sleeping a full night, and staying relaxed and de-stressed prior to departure can do wonders for the body both during, and after the flight. Take a warm bath, eat light but filling foods, and do not leave your packing until the night before. Stay focused and head to bed at a reasonable hour, keeping the room dark and the environment quiet.
First of all, both before, during, and after your flight drink lots of fluids, especially water. Several of the symptoms are attributed to simple dehydration caused by the environment of the airplane. Within a plane the humidity level is kept very low rendering the air very dry. The equalized pressure, constant noise and cramped environment can cause stress on the human's natural senses, and the body is kicked into over drive to try and compensate. Staying hydrated will alleviate some of these symptoms by moistening the eyes, nose and sinuses and assist in abating headaches, earaches, cramps and bloating. While this may prove to be a nuisance should you find yourself in the window seat, drinking a lot of water is certainly the number one way to avoid jet lag.
While it may be tempting, and sound like a good idea to loosen up with a bit of alcohol on the plane, alcohol actually prohibits regular, and restful sleep, and will contribute to the dehydration you're already experiencing. Caffeine products act the same way. Simply bring a large bottle of water, and continue to refill it.
On the plane, try to avoid staying awake during hours you would otherwise be asleep. If it's a particularly long flight, switch your watch to the destination country's time, and try to be asleep by midnight and awake at 7 am. This will help to begin to regulate your body to your destination's time clock and help to manage restlessness. To aid in this, bring earplugs, an eyemask, and a travel pillow. Each of these items will make maintaining a normal sleep pattern while changing time zones a bit easier on your body. If necessary, bring along sleep aids, but do not over use them as it will make your jetlag even worse.
When you wake, if you've missed a meal, ask that you be compensated with some food of substance. While it may be tempting to load up on airplane peanuts, the salt will do no good for keeping the water you've been so good to drink, and so aim for fruit, complex carbohydrates such as a sandwich and protein. Sugars and starches will only give you immediate energy, but complex carbohydrates will give you less energy over a longer period of time. If you have the time and resources, pack a sensible breakfast of a bagel and cream cheese, apple or orange, and yogurt for the morning.
Once awake, if possible walk around the airplane, stretching your arms, legs and torso. Rotate your wrists and ankles, bend over and touch your toes, and stretch out your back. Keeping limber will aid in circulation and avoid restlessness and cramping.
When you do arrive at your destination continue the intake of fluids and if possible, try to stay awake during the day time hours. Sleeping during the day will only prohibit a good night's rest, and leave you feeling cranky, agitated and on edge. Instead, try to go outdoors, talk a walk and breathe deeply the fresh air - this will go a long way in telling your body it is not time for sleep.
While you may have heard of popular "Anti-Jet Lag" pills, the Mayo Clinic insists there is no pill-form to cure jet lag. It is a natural process our bodies must endure when traveling far distances quickly, but using the tips above, one can facilitate the acclimation to the new time zone quicker than normal.
