Easy Travel

How to Minimize Jet Lag

Jet Lag is one of those traveling things you just have to learn how to adjust to. If the excitement of travel and being on vacation isn’t enough to help you adjust here are a few helpful suggestions that might work for you.

You can minimize the effects of jet lag in several ways:

 

1. Get several good nights’ sleep before your trip.
2. Try to adjust your bedtimes and arising times to the destination time zone before leaving on your trip. This means arising and going to bed earlier for eastbound flights and going to bed later and arising later for westbound flights.
3. Drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol during your flight to minimize dehydration, which exacerbates jet lag.
4. Try to take a flight that arrives at night, so you can go straight to bed.
5. Sleep on the plane (although not during descent).
6. During the flight do isometric exercises, eat lightly, and drink little or no alcohol.
7. Try to use a rest room in the airport terminal before departure. On some flights the cabin crew begins beverage service shortly after the Fasten Seat Belts sign is turned off, and the serving cart may block access to the lavatories.
8. Give yourself some time to adjust to the new time zone and don’t schedule much the first day. If you are on business, arrive a day or two before meetings if possible.