Mastering how to beat jet lag is essential for any traveler, helping you enjoy your trips to the fullest. However, it can be quite a challenge to conquer. Not long ago, I was battling perhaps the worst jet lag I’ve ever encountered, despite my best efforts to avoid it beforehand.
To prepare, I upgraded my flight tickets to ensure better sleep during long flights and adjusted my sleep schedule in advance to match the local time upon arrival. I even dedicated a day to rest and recover from travel. Yet, I still found myself thoroughly jet-lagged. This time, the jet lag was particularly unpredictable, not following any usual pattern. Typically, I’d feel sleepy at specific times related to my home time zone. But in this case, I found myself waking and sleeping erratically, at 3 a.m., 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and so on. It was chaotic!
It made some sense, though. After spending a month in Canada, I had been in the UK for a few days before heading to Thailand for over a week, contrasting with nearly a 14-hour time difference. Such a mismatch was bound to complicate things.
I ended up just improvising for a few days, abandoning my usual jet lag strategies. Only when I sat down and planned a way to adjust did I manage to return to a normal routine. With a fresh reminder of how awful jet lag can be, I want to share some tips to help you handle it:
Firstly, it’s crucial to re-establish your daily routine as soon as possible. Although facing Monday morning work after a dreamy vacation might seem daunting, it forces you back into a schedule. This helps regulate your sleep patterns, though it might mean enduring a few exhausting days. Alongside this, try these additional strategies.
If you arrive in the evening or late at night, head straight to bed. You’ll likely be tired from travel anyway. But if you arrive in the morning or afternoon, grab a strong coffee, put on your walking shoes, and explore until the evening. In this scenario, going to bed a bit earlier, around 8 p.m., is fine. You’ll sleep deeply and wake up refreshed and ready for the day.
Remember, beating jet lag isn’t easy. Use caffeine as needed, especially once back home in your routine. Stay active with long walks or sit in an upright chair to avoid drowsiness. Jet lag demands effort to overcome, so tackle it head-on as soon as possible.
The persistent fatigue of jet lag, from poor or disrupted sleep, can be frustrating. Ensure you allow enough time for sleep—it’s not about cutting sleep short, just timing it right. Ultimately, proper sleep is essential for functioning. It’s better to be well-rested even if your body isn’t perfectly aligned with local time, rather than being constantly worn out.
When you return home, or reach your destination, give yourself a few days to manage the jet lag. Don’t jump straight back into work after traveling long distances. If possible, set aside a couple of days to rest and adjust before resuming your regular routine, especially with significant time differences. This buffer can make all the difference in recovering from jet lag effectively.
