How To Cope With Jet Lag

People who travel from one country to the other feel sleepy and sluggish due to entering a new time zone. The person feels tired during the day along with concentration problems. This condition is known as jet lag. There can be a problem in working normally in the daytime and stomach problems. The problems due to jet lag are temporary and get resolved within few days. However, some people may find it difficult to return to normal sleep and health even after a few days of reaching the new destination. The main cause of jet lag is a change in the body clock on changing the location. When the body fails to adjust to the new time zone, several types of health problems can occur. The air pressure is very high on an airplane. In addition, the humidity is very less. All these causes lead to jet lag. We will give some tips for fighting this problem.

Following Are Some Tips On How To Cope With Jet Lag:

1. Adjust Sleeping And Waking Schedule

Adjust your body to the new time zone you are about to enter before starting the journey.[1] For this, you should try to sleep at night and wake up in the morning according to the new time zone of your destination. Do this for a few days before the date of your journey. Choose a dark and quiet room for sleeping at the destination.

2. Drink Water

Dehydration can occur when you are flying in an airplane and it can worsen the symptoms of jet lag.[2] For this, you need to drink plenty of water before you start your journey. When you are in the plane, you should drink water at that time also. Even after you reach your destination, you should drink water. Don’t take alcohol when you have to travel.

3. Avoid Caffeinated Drinks

If you take caffeinated drinks before or while travelling in a plane, it can make you feel sleepy during the daytime. Thus, restrict and control the intake of such drinks.[3] Don’t take coffee and other caffeine drinks while travelling. Taking such drinks in the afternoon may cause sleeplessness at night. Thus, avoid caffeine drinks.

4. Use Earplugs And Blindfolds

Sometimes, the loud noise as well as the light in the plane causes a disturbance in the body worsening the symptoms of jet lag. Protect yourself from noise by plugging the ear with earplugs.[4] You should also avoid unwanted light by using eyeshades and blindfolds. It will help in getting sound sleep.

5. Take Regular Meals

It is important to take a balanced diet that includes healthy foods.[5] Take regular meals after reaching the destination. Take food according to the time of the place you are visiting. Don’t miss the meals and eat three times daily. Eat carbohydrate foods.

6. Get Sunlight Exposure

Get sunlight exposure according to the time zone of the destination you are visiting.[6] This means that you should get morning sunlight in the case of a journey to the Eastern side. For this time zone, it is best to avoid sunlight in the afternoon. Sitting in the sunlight after reaching the destination in the evening time induces peaceful sleep at night.

7. Do Walking And Stretching

The body becomes static when you are sitting in the plane causing many types of problems including poor blood circulation and joint stiffness.[7] Get up from your seat at regular intervals during the journey. Do little walking for a few steps in the plane. You can also do stretching exercises while standing in one place. When you reach the new destination, don’t do too much exercises before sleeping at night.