Tired of jet lag? Have a look at some interesting hacks to beat jet lag on flights and once you land to help you feel more energized to go about your vacation in a different time zone. But what causes jet lag? Our bodies are used to carrying out routines within a 24-hour period, which are known as circadian rhythms. This is what regulates your sleep and waking cycles. Flying to two or more time zones disrupts this cycle and jet lag is caused when your body is out of sync at the new destination. Jet lag can create indigestion, fatigue, loss of appetite and lowered concentration – issues which vary for each person. So find out how to prevent jet lag with these awesome travel tips that are commonly used by frequent flyers and flight attendants as well.
When you are feeling extremely tired, you might be tempted to have a good cup of coffee or go for an energy drink – but this can actually make jet lag recovery much slower. Heavily caffeinated drinks will also disrupt your sleep cycle and keep you awake when you need to sleep, so keep the cups of coffee to a minimum. In your action plan for jet lag, try to stay hydrated by drinking water instead, you will definitely feel much better afterward.
Frequent flyers will notice how much their sleep cycle will be disrupted when they travel to two or more time zones. Getting the right amount of sleep is one of the best tips to beat jet lag every time you fly. It’s important to be well-rested by getting a good night’s sleep even if you are really excited about your big trip. Try to avoid taking sleeping pills as much you can, unless you have checked it out with your doctor. Taking sleeping pills will slow down the recovery time for jet lag. Most flight attendants recommend avoiding sleep as soon as you reach your destination since you will have trouble sleeping at night, but a quick short nap to get some rest would be enough.
If you book an overnight flight, you will land at your destination during the daylight hours where you can adjust yourself to the new surroundings and time zone. You can also catch up on some sleep while you are on the plane. Try to arrange flights so that once you reach your destination it will be morning or afternoon.
How to prevent jet lag once you reach the destination? Some awesome travel tips include taking at least a 15 to 20-minute stroll outdoors in the sunshine instead of taking a nap in your hotel room. Take a stroll around the city – you might find some nice places to explore and get some sightseeing done too. You can even do a few stretches or light exercise in your hotel room to improve your circulation and energize yourself.
Changing your eating and sleeping habits according to the new time zone before you leave can help too. For example, if you will be having dinner an hour earlier in the new destination, try having dinner an hour earlier at home too. Be aware if you are traveling east or west – if you are traveling east go to bed an hour later, but if you are traveling west getting to bed an hour earlier will help. You can also change the times on your phone and watch once you get on the plane to ease into the new time zone when it comes to eating and sleeping.
You can get tired of flying even though you enjoy traveling, so have an action plan for jet lag. Don’t forget to try out these great travel tips on how to prevent jet lag to have a more upbeat holiday at any destination.
