When you travel, you may find that you suffer from jet lag as you'll need to adjust to the new time zone. Long-haul flights can affect how you feel, and it may even seem that you've booked a one-way ticket to exhaustion.
Here are some tips on how to recover from severe jet lag.
Before You Fly
Before you get on the plane, it's a good idea to prepare for the long-haul flight. Adequate preparation will allow you to start your trip feeling fresh and energized rather than jet lagged.
If you usually have a rigid routine and set times to eat and sleep, it's a good idea to relax your schedule slightly a few days before your flight. If you've been following rigid eating and sleeping patterns, this can make it more challenging to adjust to a new time zone. Becoming more flexible will be a significant advantage when you start your trip abroad.
It's also a good idea to ensure that you get a good night's sleep before flying. Many people stay up late so that they can sleep on the plane. This may have a detrimental effect and add to your jet lag.
During The Flight
It's best to avoid drinking on long-haul flights as alcohol causes dehydration, leading to fatigue and severe jet lag. Avoid drinks that are high in caffeine, such as coffee, coke-cola, or energy drinks. These drinks contain artificial stimulants that will only add to the jet lag and affect your ability to sleep during the flight. It's best to drink lots of water and keep yourself hydrated to offset the effects of jet lag.
Reduced blood circulation is one of the most common effects of jet lag. To avoid bad circulation and reduce the effects of jet lag, you can walk around the plane regularly and do some onboard exercise to keep your blood flowing. Most airlines have a card available with seated exercise that will help you avoid deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Arriving At Your Destination
Once you've arrived at your destination, aim to go outside and get as much daylight as you can. This will make you feel much better as sunlight will keep you alert and improve your mood.
You can also drink plenty of water to rehydrate yourself; jet lag is a lot worse if you're dehydrated.
Try to go to bed at the correct time and stay in bed even if you're wide awake. It's best to try to get as much sleep as you usually would the night after you've arrived.
If you can't sleep, try reading in bed as this may help you relax and fall asleep.
And if you want to fully recharge your body, supplements like sleep harmony can help achieve better sleep!
Sleep Harmony optimizes your rest and recovery by promoting deeper sleep. A sleep phase where your body undergoes cell regeneration, energy restoration and brain detoxification so that you'll wake up fully recharged.
Happy Travels!