How to Avoid Jet Lag

Hey there, Jetlag Junkies! 

I live by the mantra that jet lag is totally worth it because of the experiences you get to have when you travel. I mean, hello. I named my business The Jetlag Experience! But my 25 years of international travel have also taught me that crossing time zones doesn't actually mean you have to feel like crap for 3 days. It may take a little discipline, but there are some preventive steps you can take to reduce (or even eliminate) jet lag.

Hydrate!

Water is your best friend when it comes to air travel, so hydrate like it's going out of style. Use moisturizer and aromatic oils so that your body doesn't send its resources to your skin (bonus: not looking like you just spent the last 8 hours cramming for your chemistry midterm). 

PRO TIP: Start chugging that water a minimum of three days before takeoff to get the maximum benefit.

Adjust Your Sleep Cycle

Even slight changes to your sleep/wake schedule will augment your circadian rhythm enough to alleviate some of that jet lag, so go ahead and binge watch Game of Thrones a couple of nights before departure. Try to make adjustments in 45 minute increments to throw your REM off its game. 

Teetotalers Win

A major (yet highly unfortunate) cause of jet lag seems to be partaking in the on-board refreshments (I'm told). So I guess you shouldn't. Oh who am I kidding? I always drink on the plane. Just make sure you're well-hydrated!

Sleep in the Air

I know. Between the wine and the movies, the plane noise and the awkward headrests, it's tough to sleep in flight. But you HAVE TO DO IT, ok? At least for a few hours. If you don't, well, your entire first (and second) day will be a bust. So pop that melatonin, don some noise-canceling headphones, and catch some Zzz's.

Just. Breathe.

Fresh air is your lifeblood, so upon landing, strive to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Go for a walk, acclimate to your temporary neighborhood, and breathe as much O2 as possible. Trust me folks. I do this for a living.

Force Yourself to Accept Your New Time Zone

This. This. THIS is where everyone messes up--especially since most flights to Europe arrive in the early morning. You have to push through. Do not nap. Eat dinner as late as possible and follow your typical nighttime routine. Night one is rough, but night two is rougher, so you have got to heed this wisdom if you want to avoid jet lag and get your vacay started off right.  

I hope these tips help you to avoid getting jet lag on your next transatlantic adventure. Do you have a regimen to avoid jet lag? I'd love to hear about it! Shoot me an email: autumn@jetlagplease.com or connect with me on Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

Ciao for now...

Autumn