7 Best ways to avoid jet lag, according to experts
The dreaded downside of long -distance trips does not have to play with your holiday plans.
Traveling is a significant way to meet new people, eliminate creativity and improve personal growth while exploring new pockets in the world. It's exciting and inspiring, but it can also be exhausting. Jet lag is real and comes into play when traveling in several time zones. It can disturb your sleep model, trigger headaches and nausea and make you lose valuable holidays.
A recent study of Yotel revealed that 42% of travelers find that cope with jet lag is a real struggle. More than half (53%) admit that the fear of missing often leads them to ignore the fatigue of their body. In addition, 23% admitted that they would reconsider their travel plans if it meant that they could avoid the jet lag.
But, it is not necessary to reorganize your travel plans. Simply pack your bags and follow these expert tips to avoid time difference before it even begins.
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1. Adjust your sleep schedule before traveling
If you fly from the East Coast to Europe, Dr Eugene Delaune, MD , an advisor with Allianz partners , suggests adjust your sleep schedule for about a week before your trip to align with the sleep schedule that you will follow at your destination.
On the day of your trip, Dr. Delaune recommends sleeping on the plane if it is a night flight and avoiding a nap once arrived. "It helps take a shower, change clothes and spend time in the light outside to convince the body that it starts a new day," he said. "Even if you are tired the first night, sleep help could be useful to avoid waking up."
On the other hand, if you are traveling from the west coast to Europe, Dr. Delaune recommends a different strategy: "In addition to a progressive change in the sleep calendar in the days preceding the trips (stay in bed more late in the morning and stay later in the night), it is best to avoid sleeping during the flight.
Once you are at your destination, he recommends taking sleep help the first night to spend a "full sleep of sleep and adapt more quickly to time zone".
2. Stay hydrated
Drinking water is always healthy, but it is particularly important when traveling.
"Plane cabins have low humidity levels, as low as 5-20%," said Bob Bacheler, DNP, CFRN, CCRN , Managing Director of Flying Angels, Inc . "This is lower than the Sahara desert, which can cause dehydration. Dehydration can exacerbate the symptoms of jet lag, such as fatigue and headache."
Staying hydrated can reduce fatigue and other jet lag symptoms.
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3. Use a travel application to help you plan
A practical tool to use that helps fight jet lag is the Timeshifter application . It is an easy way to create a calendar based on your flights, your time zone at home and your destination time zone.
"He tells me when to sleep, when having caffeine, and when looking for or avoiding lively lights," said Amber Haggerty, a travel blogger with Amber everywhere . "I discovered that it made a notable difference in the jet lag that I feel when I spot, especially if I follow it carefully."
4. Try red therapy
People use red therapy to fight wrinkles and smooth skin, but it can also help with jet lag, according to Travel Blogger Kathryn Anderson .
"One of the last ways to avoid the time difference is Biohack your body with red light therapy," she explains. "Using a sleeping device for red light therapy, you can reset your circadian pace and avoid the unpleasant effects of the jet lag."
Surprisingly, it helped Anderson completely avoid feeling slow and tired after a long flight. "I used an after a 9-hour flight from Vancouver, British Columbia in Barcelona, Spain, and I completely jumped the jet lag. Red light therapy devices really work!"
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5. Do not sleep on the plane
Despite the number one advice, some passionate travelers swear by not sleeping on a flight to fight the jet lag, as Peter Shankman , entrepreneur, author and principal lecturer, who accumulates 350,000 miles per year. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
"I bring tons of additional work on the plane, watch movies, etc. I also go to the kitchen and I make 20 squats every 90 minutes so that blood flows," he said.
In some cases, by not sleeping on the plane, you can stand up to bedtime in your usual time zone.
"Go to the gymnasium quickly before going to bed, get light, then sleep at your normal time," suggests Shankman. "You will wake up in the morning without time difference. Do the same on the way back."
6. Avoid caffeine and alcohol
It is tempting to reject a few drinks on long flights, but the consumption of caffeine or alcohol can improve the effects of the jet lag, dehydrate your body and disturb your sleep.
"Get in water and tea based on plants, which will help you keep hydrated and facilitate the end of adapting to a new time zone," Peter Hamdy , said the managing director of Auckland & Beyond Tours . Holiday drinks can wait until you have approached and your adventure started.
7. Refresh once you land
When you arrive at your destination, don't sit down and don't relax. You will fall into a terrible rotation difficult to break, say our experts.
Instead, "refresh yourself by brushing your teeth, washing your face or using body cleaning wipes", " Danielle Desir Corbett , an expert in an affordable award -winning affordable travel and the host of "The Thought Card Podcast". "The best way to overcome the jet lag is to rest, rejuvenate and adapt to local time from the first day."