Jet Lag is a condition caused by longer flights you take to different time zone. When you change time for more than two time zones, you will experience Jet Lag. The more time zones you cross, the worse it is to travel while traveling east has a greater effect on jet lag generally than when you travel to the west. However, if you are ending in a time zone in one hour or two of your own normal time zone, you will not suffer jet lag. Jet lag can cause headaches, swollen hands and feet, fatigue and lethargy, insomnia, disorientation, digestive problems, irritability or anxiety, lack of concentration, loss of appetite, nausea and dehydration.
Minimizing jet lag will improve the beginning of any trip overseas, while minimizing jet lag may be of special interest to travelers spending a short time abroad. To avoid the worst of jet lag and realign the clock of your body fast, the tips highlighted below will help.
To minimize jet lag, plan your trip ahead and ensure that you are at ease on the plane in order to rest and relax, even if you don’t really sleep. Regardless of the temperature on the plane, dress on layers in order to feel comfortable. Try as much as possible to remain hydrated throughout your trip as you must begin the trip well-hydrated. Take along with you a neck pillow, water bottle, noise-reducing headphones or earplugs and all other personal effects you need to feel stress-free during your trip. Take advantage if you are able to sleep when you can because when you are awake the whole time, your trip can be very long. Try as much as possible to take time to do nothing than letting your mind and body relax.
Another tip to minimize jet lag is to take plenty of water but stay away from caffeine and alcohol. However, fruit juice and herbal tea will do, if you find drinking large quantity of water difficult, although it is recommended.
On the other hand, you can consider jet lag cures as another way of minimizing jet lag. You can use Ambien aka Zolpidem. It is a sleep aid that can be used to fight jet lag. However, discuss using Ambien with your doctor as it has its own side effects like other prescriptions. You can also rave about melatonin which is the hormone that will help recalibrate your internal clock. You can get melatonin over-the-counter in the United States but it is prohibited in some countries in Europe.
It is also important for you to know your travel plan and itinerary very well. You will want to sleep at a normal bedtime that night, if you are arriving at your destination in the evening. On the other hand, you should stay awake until it is time to sleep at night, if you are arriving in the morning or early afternoon. If you were unable to sleep on the plane and you are thinking about what time it is at your home country, it can be tempting to fall into a bed and sleep right away, but resist the temptation.
Take a relaxed walk outside in order to be exposed to the natural sunlight when possible as this will assist you to reset your internal clock. Find a place to sit and wait in the airport near a window getting morning sun for the same reason, if you arrive in the morning and need to make a connecting flight. Take an early afternoon nap, but set an alarm to make sure that your nap doesn’t stretch too long and thus impede your sleep at night, if you must actually rest during your first day at your destination. If you stay awake throughout the first day, you will have a sound sleep on the first night.