Whatever the reason for your trip, you have made a considerable investment. It costs you time and money. If you’re stuck in a hotel room with symptoms of jet lag, you’re missing out.
Obviously, you would like to make the most of your trip. You’ll get the greatest return on your investment if you’re out of your hotel room enjoying your destination. I can help you achieve this.
“What is jet lag?”
In simple terms, jet lag is a disruption of your body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm. This clock establishes your sleeping and waking hours. It is complex and sensitive. Flying east or west concentrates it. That’s because you cross time zones much faster than your body can adapt.
What are the common symptoms of jet lag? They include:
* Headache
* Disorientation
* Anxiety
* exhaustion
* indigestion
* dehydration
* Impaired coordination
Obviously, these things could ruin your trip. Following these guidelines will reduce the symptoms of jet lag and allow you to enjoy your trip even more.
I am going to divide this discussion into three sections:
*Before your trip
* During Your Flight
* At Your Destination
A. Help prevent jet lag before you leave home
1. Get enough sleep. NASA found that getting as much sleep as possible starting two days before your trip is important to minimizing jet lag symptoms.
2.Reduce your stress. All that running can stress you out more.
3. Exercise. If you exercise regularly, make it a priority to stick to that routine right before you travel. Also, continue on to your destination.
B. Things you can do during your flight to reduce jet lag
1. Get to the airport early. Not rushing to catch your flight will help you reduce stress and feel more relaxed. So you’ll be better on the plane.
2. Start adjusting to the new time zone and schedule. When you board the plane, set your watch to the time at your destination. Then think about when you will eat and sleep there. Try to start eating and sleeping at those times.
3. Get as much sleep as you can on the plane. This is a key factor in reducing jet lag.
4. Wear comfortable clothing. Comfortable clothes, warm socks and a sweater will allow you to sleep better.
5. Drink lots of water. No soft drinks, no alcohol, no caffeine, just water.
6. Get up and stretch often.
7. Use a footrest. If you’re tall, it takes the stress off your lower back. If you’re not that tall (or a kid) and if your feet aren’t touching the ground, this helps prevent cramps behind the thighs.
8. Loosen your shoes to give your feet a little more circulation.
9. Avoid pills and supplements. There was a study published in the Lancet Medical Journal in England. He blamed 18% of deaths during long-haul flights on blood clots in the lungs. Sleeping pills make you sleep without any body movement. This reduces circulation and increases the chance of blood clotting.
C. Adjustment at your destination
1. Try to eat at the new time. This helps your body clock adjust to minimize your jet lag symptoms.
2. Try to sleep on the new schedule.
3.Exercise. This is also one of the important remedies for jet lag. If you have a regular exercise routine, you’ll want to continue it now.
4. Get out in the sunlight. This is easy to achieve as long as you have a sunny day.
Studies have shown that exposure to bright light helps change circadian rhythms (biological clock) and therefore reduces jet lag symptoms.
That’s just a brief description. I recommend that you read my entire article on jet lag before you head out on your next long trip. You can find it on my website.
Copyright 2005 by Ph.Developments USA, Inc. All rights reserved.