Jet lag is intrinsically tied in with travel, especially long-distance travel across time zones. If the trip is long, you can wait for your body to become adjusted to the new time zone. For a short trip, however, our body does not have the time to adapt because the time zones are changing rapidly.
To overcome jet lag on a short trip, we need to know why jet lag happens in the first place. The first step in doing so is to understand how our bodies work. The human body is programmed to do a couple of things in 24 hours, such as eating and sleeping. The routine of performing these activities is disrupted when travelling across time zones. Experts at Click Pharmacy say that some of the effects of jet lag can be extreme fatigue, indigestion, bowel irritation, and even drastic change in appetite and memory. While these are the most common effects of jet lag, different people can be affected in different ways depending on age, weight, and other health indicators.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive way or time frame to get rid of jet lag, but there are some ways to minimise its effects and control it. Here are some of them:
1. Sleep on the airplane
Sleeping on the plane gives you the extra energy to go through the day in your new time zone and adjust accordingly. In case you are one of those people who cannot sleep on an airplane, you will have to take extra steps. The experts at Click Pharmacy suggest doing breathing exercises and carrying an eye mask with you to help sleep on a plane. You can also drink herbal tea to help you sleep better on the plane.
It is best to avoid sleeping pills throughout the trip. These can leave you feeling fuzzy without actually giving you restful sleep and fixing your sleep cycle. If herbal and natural methods can help you sleep better, then those are definitely recommended.
2. Keep yourself busy
During the day, try to keep yourself busy. Drink lots of water to keep you focused through the day. Keep the schedule for the first day on the trip light, but keep doing one activity or another throughout the day so that you only sleep during the night.
3. Naps
Power naps and resting your back whenever you can throughout the trip can really help relieve the jet lag. It also helps you to adjust to the new time zone by making sure you stay up during the day, and the significant portion of the sleep you get is during the night.
4. Sleep when you’re tired
If you are on a short trip another method to regulate the sleep schedule and dealing with the jet lag is the that you sleep whenever you can. While one way to deal with the jet lag is to make sure you sleep according to the local time, but it is not the only way. You can also sleep when you are tired as long as it does not interfere with your schedule on the trip.
Do not try to manage work according to both time zones, because that will inevitably cause more problems that one can handle. Sleep according to your work in the current time zone and make sure to handle any communication between the two time zones via emails rather than phone calls that require you to be present. Since it is a short trip, it will hopefully not disturb familial and business engagements.
5. Stay away from alcohol
The experts at Click Pharmacy suggest that you should not drink alcohol during the day because there is a high chance you might fall asleep after consuming alcohol. Alcohol can also make you dehydrated which can increase fatigue and further mess up the sleep and work schedule.
6. Sleeping habits
When you sleep, make sure the room is dark and quiet and as close to your sleeping atmosphere at home as possible. Wear comfortable pyjamas that you bring yourself because they will make it easier for you to feel comfortable. The experts at Click Pharmacy suggest that breathing exercises and sleep yoga can also help.
7. Avoid arriving at night
If possible, take a flight which comes during the day which will make it easier for you to adjust to the new time zone. Arriving at night leaves you with little options for doing anything, and if you are unable to sleep, you will be wasting valuable time from your short trip.
8. Do not drink coffee
The experts at Click Pharmacy suggest that you avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee, fizzy drinks, and energy drinks. The artificial stimulants in such drinks will affect your ability to sleep and make a recovery from jet lag recovery more difficult. Allowing the body to adjust on its own is the best course of action.
9. Prepare for the trip
The experts at Click Pharmacy say that worrying about experiencing jet lag makes it harder to adjust to the new sleep cycle. A lack of preparation tears you between the current time zone and home. Making yourself familiar with the time difference and planning accordingly can help put your focus on the trip destination. Let your office and family know of your timings so that the communication is smooth throughout the trip. Make sure to take care of office work that might come up in your absence so that your trip remains as undisturbed as possible.
These necessary steps can ensure that when you travel to a different time zone for a short trip, jet lag does not hold you back from working or enjoying yourself. Jet lag can most definitely be avoided, or at the very least lessened, if the tips above are taken into account. Preparing for jet lag before the trip, and then making smart decisions during the trip can decrease jet lag quite exponentially.
