Easing jet lag by resetting the body clock the moment you land

How to avoid crashing after landing

Crossing multiple time zones may mean travel, adventure, and new experiences, but most of the time, it also means jet lag. This is a sleep disorder you temporarily get when your body’s internal clock gets thrown off by the different time zones you pass through: when everyone else is asleep, you’re raring to go. Your nocturnal habits have been reversed. Nothing can be more exhausting and frustrating to a traveler.

Here’s what you can do to ease the effects of jet lag.

Before traveling

Eat a balanced diet and exercise. It would be great if you don’t have to wait until you have to travel before doing this. Traveling across time zones and being in shifting altitudes for many hours are no small deal to your body. You need to be as fit as you can be to handle jet lag effectively.

Start syncing your body clock with your destination’s time

zone a few weeks before you leave. However, you would be better off not doing this if your trip is short and you’re not crossing over more than three time zones. If this is the case, you can just stay on home time.

Begin your trip by being well-rested. Cut down on nights out a couple of days before your trip. Pack ahead so you don’t have to stay up the night before you fly, packing in a panic.

On the plane

Stay off alcohol. Both alcohol and cholesterol may make you feel sluggish, which is not a good approach to dealing with jet lag. Adjust your watch to match your destination’s time. Although this does nothing to help you physically, syncing your watch to the time zone you’re traveling to helps you to prepare mentally. Make sleeping on the plane as comfortable as possible. Use ear plugs or noise-canceling headphones. Bring a small, comfortable pillow. Don’t let a snorer or a lumpy airline-issued pillow disrupt your body clock.

At your destination

Get some sun. Light exposure will make sense out of your muddled hormones. Going outside and basking under the morning sun will eventually set your body clock back on the right track.

Hydrate. Jet lag could cause headaches, muscle pain, dizziness, and nausea. Drinking a lot of water can help ease these symptoms.

Take cat naps. If you’re groggy and can’t get a coherent sentence in at midday, don’t force the issue. Take a power nap instead. A 20-minute nap can give you that energy boost to get through the day.