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Drinking alcohol on a long flight dehydrates you and will make you feel more tired. If you drink too much you will also end up with a hangover and that is never a good thing. Both of these will help you feel less fatigued and be better able to beat jet lag. In other words, going to Australia travel west via the US or Canada and then on the way back continue traveling west and fly home via Asia. That way you will circumnavigate the earth of course, which is pretty cool anyway. You might need a few more tips on sleeping well in a hotel.
When your sleep and wake patterns are disrupted this can lead to that internal clock being out of sync and in turn have some really negative effects on your body and mood. After a refreshing 12-hour time difference, you’re often expected to roll off a flight and straight into work. Outside of feeling sleepy in a business meeting, throwing off our body’s time zone messes with our circadian rhythm. The experts would have you believe that each hour of time zone change requires one full day to adjust.
tips to get over it
A number of studies have found that taking melatonin supplements at the right time may help realign your internal clock. Jet lag is a common condition that goes away after a few days or weeks. The symptoms of jet lag can be difficult to manage in your first few days of traveling to a different time zone.

If you keep up with your usual habits, you probably won’t feel jet lagged at all. Instead of sleeping during the day, try to keep yourself active. Distract yourself by going out in the sun, taking a walk and breathing some fresh air to restore your biorhythm. Walking will help you to stretch after all those hours sitting on the plane.
Keep Hydrated
Bring any other soothing, lightweight object from home that might help you fall asleep, such as a soft throw blanket, a nicely scented lotion or a sentimental family photo. A newer class of insomnia drugs, dual orexin receptor antagonists , block the receptor in your brain that helps you maintain wakefulness, especially in the evening. Unlike sedatives, DORAs don’t force you into unconsciousness and aren’t considered addictive, so researchers believe the sleep they provide is much closer to normal.
Dehydration makes it moredifficult for the body to adjustto the new circadian rhythm and we don’t want that. If it’s day time in your future time zone, keep your overhead light on and watch an energetic movie while the rest of the plane sleeps. I have done this many times and have even had seat-mates complain and try to turn off my light! Once you arrive, do your best to adapt to your new time zone as quickly as possible. Change any clocks or watches that didn’t automatically update so you don’t keep thinking of what time it’d be back home. Also, adjust your meal schedule and bedtime according to the time at your new destination.
Does taking melatonin work for jet lag?
If you are traveling east it is best to expose yourself to morning light to advance your body clock. If you are traveling west, try and get out in the evening light to delay your body clock. Sometimes, you can set yourself up for success in your new time zone by sleeping on the plane there.
Eat foods that provide you with a high energy, such as carbohydrates. Potassium rich foods like bananas, are also very beneficial. Finally, to stay hydrated even after your arrival, keep drinking plenty of water and eat hydrating fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, strawberries, and cucumbers. As a long time, marathon traveler, this is a great list and awesome way to avoid that terrible jet lag. One thing I would put more emphasis on as well is the nutrition you’re putting in your body.
Travel
Many of these tips also cut down on travel fatigue or the dehydration and exhaustion that can occur during long trips. You may achieve this by gradually shifting your circadian rhythm in the days leading up to the flight. Then, you’ll be more adjusted to the time zone at your destination when you arrive.
Jet lag is a disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm that occurs with plane travel across three or more time zones. Symptoms frequently include sleeping problems, daytime drowsiness, impaired mental or physical performance, general malaise, and gastrointestinal issues. You can minimize the effects of jet lag by playing ahead. By making small adjustments during the time before you leave, rearranging your schedule to mimic the time zone of your destination.
But after taking a handful of flights recently on both these state-of-the-art planes as well as older jets like Boeing 777s, I'm sold. These planes are worth seeking out if you want to step off your flight feeling more adjusted and hydrated. If you've got the points , the lie-flat bed you'll get in business class is worth every dime or mile you'll spend.

When traveling between time zones, a person should try to increase the amount of time they spend in the sun when they get to their destination. This can include going outside and opening window shades and blinds. Specifically, the National Sleep Foundation recommend avoiding alcohol and caffeine for around 3–4 hours before bedtime. Find out the causes, treatments, and some tips for prevention.
Melatonin is a hormone your body makes naturally to promote sleep. It’s also available as a supplement in various strengths. Your provider can help you understand the pros and cons of taking an over-the-counter melatonin supplement for jet lag, including how it may affect you. Keep sipping water throughout your flight and after you arrive to ensure you stay hydrated. Try out some of these strategies on how to get over jet lag on your next trip abroad and see what works for you. When your circadian rhythm is disrupted by jet lag, the timing of melatonin production can be thrown off.
Sleep aids may help you get more rest during nighttime hours when you’re still adjusting to your new location. You may also consider taking these aids during air travel. I’ve done this the two times I’ve travelled from Canada across the pond and while the first day when I landed was a bit rough, by the next morning I was right as rain. When we were new travelers, we jumped at the chance to have a glass of wine on a flight, but we paid for it later. The effects of alcohol are greater at altitude and a person becomes dehydrated quickly when flying. Staying properly hydrated is probably one of the easiest things you can do on the flight to help you reduce the effects of jet lag on the ground.
The best way to overcome jet lag is to learn and apply the science behind getting over jet lag. Mark Sisson is the founder of Mark’s Daily Apple, godfather to the Primal food and lifestyle movement, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Keto Reset Diet. His latest book is Keto for Life, where he discusses how he combines the keto diet with a Primal lifestyle for optimal health and longevity. Mark is the author of numerous other books as well, including The Primal Blueprint, which was credited with turbocharging the growth of the primal/paleo movement back in 2009. It’ s great way to explore a new city, and it keeps you moving and keeps you from wanting to nap. It also exposes you to sunlight, which as I explained will improve your circadian realignment to the new location.
It is a naturally secreted hormone in our bodies and it tells us when it’s time for bed. Unlike sleeping pills, there are no strong side-effects and addiction. Consuming caffeine won’t cure jet lag, but it may be a tool to help you stay alert and focused during the daytime. One study found that 300 milligrams of slow-release caffeine enhanced alertness in those traveling eastbound. Exposing yourself to morning light will help if you need to wake up and function earlier when you travel east.
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