There are ways and means to get over or under jet lag. Everyone seems to have a theory. Having lived abroad for much of my life, with a father who travelled regularly on business to far-flung places, it was all very simple. He did not believe in jet lag, jet lag was for wimps. So that was that, we would all arrive somewhere and throw ourselves into whatever was going on and get on with it. As far as I’m aware, this approach has served me very well.
It was interesting on my recent press trip to Miami to discover just how many different theories there were about how to avoid jet lag. The most extreme was to ensure that you never ate any food on a night flight no matter how long it was “because our bodies have two body clocks” and if we don’t feed it during the night it will understand that it needs to get into a regular day/night regime as soon as you have landed.
Personally I think the worst thing you can do is keep reminding yourself what time it is “back home”. One of my consummate traveller friend’s swears by keeping her watch on UK time for the entire duration of the trip. I tried it this time and got really confused. For me, it’s much better to simply immerse myself in the new time zone. I mean we all have moments when we stay up past our bedtimes surely? Is it therefore any different?
So I”m now back from Miami and going to work tomorrow so going to test out my theory again.
I do not have jet lag
I do not have jet lag
I do not have jet lag
Life is too short to worry about that sort of thing.
Would love to know what your top tip is?
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2 Comments
Sleep on the plane is the most important, even if it’s not strictly nighttime at your destination. Arriving refreshed is always going to help your body adjust. I eat and drink on planes (hey — I think flying is a mini-holiday all in itself) and always try to stay up until bedtime at my destination. This does lead to propping up my eyelids to make it to 8pm on the West Coast of America, but after a couple of days it all gradually shifts.
Also, we try to make the most of early-mornings inspired by jetlag. If we know we’ll be wide awake at 3:30am, we structure the trip to do a long drive the morning after landing. We’ve left Houston at 4am and arrived at my home town (10 hours away) at 2pm and are able to enjoy the rest of the day.
Oh yes, forgot you are massively professional about this – of course, sleeping on plane is essential. Lx