I have traveled many times abroad and each time I go the only thing I don’t look forward to is the jet lag.
Today I am sharing my tips for surviving jet lag.
Before the Flight:
Always fly non-stop if it is an option.
Try to pick a flight that will land at your destination later in the afternoon or evening – that way you only have to stay up a few more hours until it is time to go to bed.
The night before you leave, try to sleep as much as you can – because your next good night’s sleep won’t be for another 30 hours! Many people recommend trying to adjust your body clock several days in advance. I have tried that, and frankly all that I find is that I’m even more tired because it never works for me. I recommend just trying to go to bed at a decent time and get at least 8 hours of sleep.
Once on Board the Flight:
Once on board the plane, adjust your watch and electronic devices immediately to the time zone of your intended destination. This helps you get in a mind frame… oh, it’s 2am, I should *try* to get a nap on the plane.
Drink caffeine when you need it – I don’t recommend drinking it right when you get on the plane, because in fact you want to do the opposite and want to feel tired. You want to drink your caffeine when it is time to wake up in the time zone of your intended destination.
Melatonin – many people swear by melatonin. I have actually never used it, as I am of the mindset that when I’m tired I’ll go to sleep. But I had to include it because so many people love it.
Bring ear plugs, an eye mask and noise-canceling headphones on the air plane. I have this over-the-ear pair of headphones and these noise canceling earbuds. I love them both, actually. This is my favorite eye mask too. These are essential.
Stay hydrated – drink lots of water before, after and during the flight. Being dehydrated worsens the symptoms of jet lag.
Wear layers on the airplane – if you are too hot or too cold you won’t be able to get any sleep! I also bring a pair of comfy fluffy socks to keep my feet warm and I kick off my shoes right when I get on the plane.
I strongly recommend the jet leg face mask when you land. It makes your skin feel so fresh! I love it!
Once You’ve Reached your Destination:
When you land, if it possible to check into your hotel, check in and take a shower! It will help you feel refreshed!
Whatever you do, I highly recommend NOT SLEEPING when you land. If you take a nap when you land, one hour will turn into four and then pretty soon you’ve screwed up your sleeping schedule all over again. If you truly cannot survive without some sleep, I recommend only one hour of sleeping – and yes set an alarm immediately and make sure you get out of bed. Then go take a shower and freshen up. Whatever you do, do not keep sleeping! TRUST ME. If you can avoid sleeping, it is really the best.
Go walking. My family and I call this “Zombie Walking”. We zombie walk all over the city, because if you’re walking you can’t fall asleep. We do a fair amount of sightseeing on the first day just because we know if we sit down we’ll start to fall asleep!
Stay in the light. Choose activities that you can see the sunlight. Seeing sunlight helps our bodies naturally adjust our body clocks.
Try to stay up until at least 9pm on the first night that you are there. We have found if you go to bed any earlier, you’ll likely wake up at 2am wide awake. And now you’re back to square one.
Did you like these tips? Check out my What to Pack for Vacation in Your Carry-On guide… it’s my #1 post!
