These travel tips will help you reduce jet lag the next time you travel abroad
We all love a holiday but, unfortunately, when you’re travelling long distances it often comes with a side of jet leg.
So what causes it and are there any ways to avoid that drowsy feeling?
After years of lockdowns and travel restrictions, people are finally back in the skies and venturing to destinations right around the world.
The term “jet lag” describes the physical and cognitive symptoms people experience when traveling quickly across several timezones.
Before you leave, you’re synchronised to your local time and once you enter a new timezone, your body’s rhythms are thrown out of whack.
The experience of jet lag varies between people because we all have our own internal rhythm.
Most have a natural daily cycle of about 24.2 hours.
But some people have slightly longer cycles than others, and this could play a role in how a person experiences jet lag.
Research shows if you have a longer cycle you might adjust quicker to westward travel.
We also get a little less resilient as we age, so the older you are, the worse the jet lag may be.
So does the direction of travel matter? Scientists think so.
Many people find westward travel easier. This is when you, essentially, gain time.
But that’s not always possible – so here are some tips to help you through the pain, or even avoid it, in the first place:
1. If you’re trying to shift your body clock, you should start on the plane. Do this by setting your watch to your destination’s timezone and line up your activities, like sleep and meals, accordingly.
2. Next, keep your caffeine and alcohol intake low on the journey to help aid both sleep and hydration.
3. When you arrive, try your absolute best to sleep during the local night time and rest during the day as needed.
4. You can take a nap – but make sure it’s 30 minutes or less.
5. If you’re prone to or experience tummy trouble while traveling, stick to small meals and only eat when you’re hungry.
6. Finally, you should also expose yourself to sunlight throughout the day when adjusting to your new timezone.
Happy travelling!
