Don't Let Jet Lag Ruin Your Vacation
If you’ve ever traveled to a distant place and experienced jet lag, you know how it can put a damper on your fun. Jet lag happens when your body’s normal rhythm and patterns become out of sync.
While in your normal time zone, your body is used to doing things like sleeping and eating in a fairly regular schedule, but being in a different time zone can substantially upset that schedule. As a result, when you first arrive in another time zone, you may feel ready for bed during daytime hours or hungry at odd times of the day and night. Symptoms of jet lag include nausea, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, and insomnia.
In many instances, adjusting to a new time zone will happen fairly quickly. However, it can take a day or two in some cases. And jet lag can hit older travelers harder than younger travelers. Although jet lag rarely requires medical treatment, you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience severe or alarming symptoms.
A few helpful suggestions that help prevent jet lag or reduce its effects...
Take good care of yourself BEFORE your trip. Eat right, get plenty of sleep, and follow your usual exercise routine.
Keep stress to a minimum. Do not leave anything for the last minute. Pack early and organize items you know you’ll need in advance, like your passport, reading materials, preprinted boarding passes, medications, etc.
Adjust to the new time zone BEFORE leaving home. Gradually shift your sleeping and meal times closer to those of your destination. Once you reach your destination, try to sleep and eat according to the local time zone.
Sleep or do not sleep on the plane. If you’re flying during what would be nighttime hours in your destination time zone, try to stick closer to that schedule. Or, if flying during what would be daytime where you are headed, try to resist the urge to sleep.
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight. The air in planes is extremely dry, and dehydration is known to intensify jet lag symptoms. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, because both are dehydrating.
Move around as best you can during the flight. If possible, choose an aisle seat so you can get up and walk up and down the aisle from time to time. Moving your body also helps prevent blood clots, which can result from sitting in one position too long.
Enjoy some sunshine. When you get to your destination, try to spend time outdoors. Sunlight influences the body’s internal rhythms and helps it adjust to a time difference.
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