Jet lag is a normal part of international travel, including fatigue, headache, disorientation, and irregular sleeping time. There is no natural cure for treating jet lag. However, you can prevent it from torturing you too severely. And you can also do some self-treatment to help you overcome jet lag more quickly.
What is jet lag?
Jet lag can be referred to as a physical reaction to a rapid change in time zones. It affects almost all travelers, including seasoned globetrotters. Even flight attendants and pilots can suffer from jet lag even when a flight is in their lives. The most common symptoms of jet lag are insomnia, irritability, fatigue, disorientation, headaches, dry eyes, irregular bowels, and general malaise.
It’s also possible for you to experience similar symptoms without having a flight to places in time zones. This case is not considered jet lag. It’s just that you experience fatigue from a long flight. With a good night’s sleep and some exercise, you will likely feel refreshed in no time. Meanwhile, treating jet lag can be a little bit tricky. Also, individuals may have different ways of effectively treating their jet lag.
Preventing jet lag before the flight
You can prevent jet lag before the flight by treating your body well. If you stay up all night before the trip, you will likely experience severe jet lag. Avoid getting tired, sick, or hungover before the trip. Get a good night’s sleep. It’s also highly recommended to exercise, sleep well, stay hydrated, and stay sober before the flight.
Adjust your habits before leaving to adjust your internal clock. If you travel west to east, get up and bed earlier. And If you travel east to west, stay up a little later than usual and sleep a bit longer.
Preventing jet lag during the flight
Treat your body well by paying attention to what you eat during the flight. Have enough drink to stay hydrated. Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages since they can drain your body and cause severe jet lag symptoms instead. It’s also recommended to set your watch to the time of your destination to help train your brain on the new schedule.
Sleep on the flight if you arrive at your destination in the morning. Wear comfortable clothes for sleeping and have your sleep necessities ready to help you fall asleep quickly. If you are arriving late, avoid anything more than a quick nap so you’ll be tired enough when you come and can sleep well.
Treating jet lag
Jet lag is unavoidable, so you must figure out how to treat it quickly. Some travelers take melatonin pills to help them regulate their sleep cycle. Some travelers also take sleeping or motion sickness pills to induce sleep on planes or hotels after arrival. Consider having light therapy by exposing yourself to the light at the appropriate time to help align your body with the new time zone.