Dealing with Jet Lag
What is jet lag? Jet lag occurs because aircrafts allow us to cross numerous time zones in a relatively short amount of time. Our internal body clocks have a difficult time adjusting to these new time zones, hence jet lag. The typical symptoms of jet lag are daytime sleepiness, nighttime insomnia, fatigue, disorientation, irritability, digestive disorders, and a general feeling of malaise. Most people experience little or no jet lag if they cross no more than three time zones. The farther you go and the more zones you cross, the greater the effects of jet lag. One suffers this the most when crossing 12 time zones. There are several other factors that influence your vulnerability to jet lag:Age (younger people cope better).Health (poor health increases jet lag).Personality (extroverts tend to ignore the symptoms and push on).Sleeping habits (in general, if you regularly sleep seven hours or less, you adjust faster).Direction of travel (east-west or west-east are troublesome, with west-east, against the movement of the sun, causing the most difficulty). Here are some basic guidelines to combat jet lag. Remember that the goal is to get your body clock working in sync with your new time zone.Booking your departure flight: If you are traveling a short distance eastward or a longer distance westward, try to take a morning flight. If you are traveling a short distance westward or a longer distance eastward, try to book a late-afternoon or evening flight. It’s best, if possible, to arrive at your destination in the late afternoon or early evening - in time to eat a light meal and get to bed early.Sleeping: Be aware of the time at your destination and try to trick your body into believing it is already in the new time zone. If you are flying when it’s daytime at your destination, try to stay awake by reading, watching the in-flight movie, talking to other passengers, waling up and down the aisles. If it’s nighttime at your destination, try to sleep even if bright sunlight is streaming in your window - close the window blind or curtain, turn off your reading light, grab a pillow, put on an eye mask, and try to sleep, or at least relax. When you arrive at your destination and it’s night you’re in luck and can go to sleep, but remember to set your alarm to get up in the morning. Arriving during the day, after a long flight, is much trickier since you will probably be tired and somewhat disoriented. Try not to take a nap since it will only prolong jet lag (if you must take a nap, make it a short one). Freshen up at your hotel and do your best to stay awake until bedtime. One of the best tactics in this situation is to get into the sunlight. Researchers say that “light therapy” will tell your brain what time it is and help to reset your biological clock.Food and Drink: Eat lightly for the first two or three days of your trip so that you won’t overtax your digestive system. On the airplane, drink lots of fluids but avoid alcoholic beverages and limit your intake of caffeine (avoid drinks with caffeine before you try to fall asleep). Once you get to your destination, try to eat your meals based on local time. Above all, try not to be become obsessed with jet lag. Three out of four long-distance travelers are affected by it. Do not worry if it doesn’t disappear right away - every two hour time difference (or two time zones) usually takes a 24 hour recovery time.