The last thing you want is to arrive at your destination feeling exhausted, whether on a holiday or a business trip. Here are seven ways to avoid the effects of jet lag and keep yourself attentive throughout the duration of your vacation.
1. Don’t change a thing
In short trips, sticking to your regular routine can help you avoid jet lag. Keep your ‘home’ time on your watch and carry on as usual with your daily routine there, including eating, sleeping, exercising, etc.
When you do this, your body won’t even realize the change in time, and upon your return, it will adjust without a hitch.
2. Get some shut-eye
You should attempt to maintain your regular sleeping schedule even while you’re away from home and in a different time zone. Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule, even if it’s difficult at first. Your body will be better able to adjust to the time change by doing this before you go.
If you can’t sleep, getting into bed and closing your eyes is the next best thing. Your body will figure it out eventually, and you’ll sleep as much as you need to.
Read: 7 Tips for Staying Safe and Healthy While Traveling
3. Take in some calories
Getting dehydrated on a trip or on the plane there is a common way to exacerbate jet lag. To avoid this, be sure to take in lots of liquids, especially water and juices, during your trip.
Avoiding alcohol is recommended because it can cause dehydration.
4. Get in time
You should adjust your watch to the local time once you reach your destination if you will be traveling through time zones with major time differences. You’ll want to eat at the proper times, sleep when it’s dark outside, etc.
You may mitigate the effects of jet lag before they even set in by adjusting your normal routine to fit the new time zone. To readjust your circadian rhythms to the new light and dark schedule, simply follow the new schedule.
Read: 10 Tips to Maximize Your Time and Budget When Traveling to Europe
5. Exercise Once you get here
Exercising after a long flight can help you adjust to your new time zone more quickly. A walk outside or some light calisthenics in your hotel room would suffice for this purpose.
Get your blood pumping by doing some jumping jacks, or go for a walk around town. The extra energy you gain from exercise can be “banked” and used later to better deal with shifting light levels.
6. When sleep simply won’t come
If everything else fails, a sleeping medication might help your body relearn its natural sleep schedule.
Sleeping pills aren’t suggested under normal circumstances, but they can help you get some shut-eye and stay awake on your travels if you have to adjust to many time zones.
7. Physiological cues
You might also try aromatherapy if the idea of taking a sleeping pill doesn’t appeal to you. Get a good travel kit that has both stimulating oils like peppermint and calming oils like lavender.
If you follow all of these guidelines, you won’t have to worry about jet lag on your next vacation.
