To reduce jet lag, adjust sleep schedule before departure, stay hydrated, exercise, and adjust to local time at destination. Flying east to west is easier. Boat trips allow for gradual adjustment. Listen to your body.
It is not possible to prevent jet lag entirely, but there are a number of measures that can be taken to reduce the intensity of jet lag. Most techniques for avoiding jet lag involve taking care of your body, as it’s easier to adjust to a new location and time zone when you feel fit and healthy. People also tend to respond differently to various jet lag remedies, so something that works well for one person may not be as effective for another. Frequent travelers often create their own regimens to prevent jet lag, based on their experiences.
If you’re able to do this, one of the best ways to prevent jet lag is to slowly adjust your sleep and wake schedule over the few days before your departure. By changing your schedule by about an hour a day, you can relax into the shock of a new environment. It’s also a good idea to get plenty of rest before leaving and eat well. Staying hydrated is also key, as the air on an airplane can be very dehydrating and this can make jet lag even worse.
Once you board a plane to your destination, set your watch to the local time at your destination, to start getting into the swing of things. On a long flight, make sure you sleep through the night at your destination and stay awake during the day. Drink plenty of water, pack familiar snacks, and move and exercise as much as possible to stay alert and keep your body stretched. If you have a long layover and showers are available, grab one; long-haul pilots say showering during a grueling journey can be refreshing and can help offset the effects of jet lag.
Once you arrive at your destination, try to get your body working on local time as quickly as possible. If you arrive at night, take a hot shower and try to sleep for a few hours before going out. If you arrive during the day, take a cool shower to wake up, eat a small meal and get active; take a walk or visit a museum to unwind and wake up after your flight. It also helps to have nothing planned for a day or two after arriving in a distant place, to give you time to adjust without pressure.
Supposedly, flying east to west is easier than flying west to east, although jet lag is sadly unavoidable on extremely long flights. By staying well rested, fed, and unwinding, you can offset some of the more severe symptoms of jet lag. Ultimately, it’s also a good idea to listen to your body if you want to prevent jet lag. If you’re tired, get some rest, and if you’re awake at odd times, do something to calm yourself down like drinking a hot drink, reading, or meditating.
Sure, there’s a great way to prevent jet lag, for those with the time: take a boat. A boat trip gives travelers several days to slowly adjust as they cross time zones, and it can be a fun trip too.
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