How can we avoid jet lag?

Jet lag is one of the most feared inconveniences when travelling and although it is a normal thing, it is always a pain. This is basically due to the fact that our biological clock is out of sync with the new time zone we are in. Although not everyone is affected equally, it can spoil the first few days of your trip.

The main symptom will be sleep disorder. This will result in a bad humour, restlessness, fatigueand even vomiting in extreme cases.

Our top 5 tips to help you avoid jet lag

Even if there are no miracles to avoid jet lag. We tell you the best tricks to get rid of it.

1.Sleep well

Get a good night’s sleep the night before. It seems obvious, but getting at least 7 hours of sleep the night before a flight will keep you rested and relaxed before you fly. We know it is difficult to do it with the excitement of a trip, but you have to try. Pack your suitcase in advance so that you don’t have to pack late at night and can go to bed on time.

2. Stay hydrated

Keep hydrated. It is tempting to drink gin and tonics on the plane, but drinking water or juices during the flight will considerably reduce the effects of jetlag. Drink caffeine if you need to stay awake or a camomile tea if you need to sleep.

3. Local time

Once you have boarded the plane and before take-off, set the destination local time, so that you can get an idea of the new time you have to get used to.

4. Adjust your schedule

If you know you will be arriving in the morning, try to get as much sleep as possible on the plane so that you are rested when you arrive. If, on the other hand, your plane arrives at night, try not to sleep too much on the plane, drink coffee and hang on until you arrive.

5. Adapting

Try to adjust yourself as quickly as possible. If it’s bedtime and you’re not sleepy, lie down in bed, put on some music and try to rest, don’t get nervous, it happens to everyone and the sooner you adjust the better. If you have to stretch out the day, try not to stay indoors where you can sleep, go outside and take a walk.

As you can see, most of the tricks are to be done before the trip, if you find yourself in one of those sleepless nights due to jetlag and you are looking for a miraculous solution, I am sorry to say that there is none. The best thing you can do is to relax, think that it happens to everyone and that your body is wise and sooner rather than later you will get used to it.

Where do you notice jet lag the most?

Jet lag is more noticeable when you travel to the east than the west, this is because it is easier for us to stretch out the day than to shorten it, we have all stayed up late and gone to bed late at some time, but going to bed at 4pm as if it were 11pm is another story. So if you are organising your trip to Asia or Oceania we recommend you to use our tips.

But how long will it last?

It depends on a number of factors, age, physical condition, time difference. It generally affects women more than men and the older we get, the more we suffer from it, yet another inconvenience to the list of getting older… However, the effects usually last from several hours to a couple of days at most.

If you have any other tip that works for you and would like to share with us, please leave us a comment and we will add it to the list.