Jet Lag ? 5 Pre-travel Steps to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag


Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying and you will soon discover that everyone has a different "magic" formula for overcoming or avoiding jet lag.

In reality of course no magic formula exists ? and there is certainly no magic pill or tablet. There is, however, a great deal that you can do in preparation for your departure to help you overcome or eliminate jet lag and here are just a few tips:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep pattern.

If you are not following a consistent routine in the days and weeks before your journey (going to bed and getting up at the same time each day) your body's internal clock will be disrupted even before you start your journey and your flight will simply magnify the effects of insomnia induced by jet lag.

2. Ensure you are getting a balanced and healthy diet.

Diet plays an important role in ensuring that you get a good night's sleep and an appropriate balance of whole grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables in your diet is essential.

Alcohol and caffeine are two elements of your diet that are particularly important in relation to jet lag and these should be reduced, or eliminated, in the run-up to your journey if at all possible. If, however, asking you to give up your twelve cups of coffee each day is rather like asking you to cut off your right hand, then try to limit your intake to the afternoon between about 3 pm and 5 pm.

Caffeine when taken late in the day tends to speed up your body clock, while taking it in the morning has the opposite effect. Taken during the middle of the day, caffeine has little or no effect on your body's circadian rhythms.

3. Take regular exercise.

Regular exercise can significantly improve the consistency, quality and duration of your normal sleep cycle. Some form of daily aerobic exercise, lasting at least twenty minutes, will go a long way to preparing your body for your forthcoming journey.

4. Start to slowly adjust your bedtime.

You should begin to "manage" your body clock by gradually and slowly adjusting your bedtime and wake up time in the days before your journey, to bring these into line with the local time at your destination.

If, for example, you normally go to bed at 10 pm and you are flying to a country that is four hours ahead, at your normal bedtime the time at your destination will be 2 am. So, in this case, you need to slowly bring your bedtime forward a little bit (say fifteen minutes) each night for a week or ten days before your departure. This might mean that immediately prior to leaving you are going to bed at say 7.30 pm. However, when you arrive at your destination this will mean that you are now going to bed at 11.30 pm and that you have narrowed the four hour time difference to just one and a half hours.

5. Reduce stress in the days before traveling.

One often overlooked factor in the jet lag equation is that of stress and much of this stress is a direct result of the journey itself. How many times have you found yourself running around at the last minute trying to do 1001 things at once?

Plan ahead and make sure that, as far as is possible, everything that you need to do both at home and at works is completed well in advance of your journey. In planning for your journey, clear as much as you can as early as you can and make specific time available in your pre-journey planning for plenty of relaxation in the days immediately prior to your departure.

These are just a few examples of things that you should pay attention to when planning any long-haul trip and, together with other specific measures taken both during your flight and following your arrival, will considerably reduce the effects of jet lag, or even lead to no jet lag at all!

Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders - http://help-me-to-sleep.com

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health-related publications looking in detail at curing insomnia and managing other common sleep disorders. Drop by for more information on jet lag and to pick up your free copy of "How To Get A Good Night's Sleep".







Related News



Plane towing ad lands in shallow water - Los Angeles Times

Plane towing ad lands in shallow water
Los Angeles Times, CA -17 hours ago
"The guy did such a good job that I would be hesitant to call it a crash," said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, ...
Small plane makes emergency landing on Seal BeachSan Francisco Chronicle
Small plane makes emergency landing on Seal BeachSan Jose Mercury News
Plane makes biggest splash at OC beaches on the 4thOCRegister
Long Beach Press-Telegram - OCRegister
all 39 news articles

Would-be aviation hub tries again - Sydney Morning Herald

Would-be aviation hub tries again
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia -Jul 4, 2008
"The current inefficient distribution of aviation activity within the Sydney Basin has created capacity constraints at Sydney [Airport] which may result in ...


Indian domestic aviation sector poised for next phase of consolidation - domain-B

Indian domestic aviation sector poised for next phase of consolidation
domain-B, India -13 hours ago
New Delhi: Given the unceasing turmoil now being faced by the Indian aviation sector it is likely that the next phase of consolidation may well roll out ...
Investors sniffing at troubled Indian airlinesAviation Record
Mallya eyes 26% stake in SpiceJetTimes of India
SpiceJet Rises in Mumbai on Report of Kingfisher Deal (Update2)Bloomberg
Economic Times - domain-B
all 34 news articles

lOkonjo Iweala linked with N19.5b aviation scam - Why she shunned ... - Nigerian Tribune

lOkonjo Iweala linked with N19.5b aviation scam - Why she shunned ...
Nigerian Tribune, Nigeria -2 hours ago
The Senate Committee probing the Aviation Sector would need to take the account of former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, on the mode of ...

Aviation fund probe: NAMA director arrested - As FAAN ex-MD denies ... - Nigerian Tribune

TopNews

Aviation fund probe: NAMA director arrested - As FAAN ex-MD denies ...
Nigerian Tribune, Nigeria -2 hours ago
Sources told the Sunday Tribune that the director’s arrest came on the heels of the arrest and docking of former aviation ministers, Professor Babalola ...
Aviation fund: FG to pay N2bn interest on N6.5bn loan.The Punch
Usman, Aondoakaa Absent at Aviation Probe Panel SittingThis Day
• How N19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund was blownDaily Sun
Daily Sun - The Punch
all 211 news articles

Plane crashes at Iowa City Airport - Quad City Times

Plane crashes at Iowa City Airport
Quad City Times, IA -Jul 3, 2008
A Federal Aviation Administration investigator is en route to investigate the crash, which occurred on Thursday evening. Police are not releasing the ...
Crash at Iowa City airport injures oneDesMoinesRegister.com
all 29 news articles

GE Aviation buys Czech turboprop engine maker - Hartford Courant

GE Aviation buys Czech turboprop engine maker
Hartford Courant, United States -Jul 3, 2008
s aviation business is entering the fast-growing market for small twin-engine turboprop aircraft, the company announced Thursday. GE Aviation says it has ...

Daily Briefing - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Wall Street Journal

Daily Briefing
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA -Jul 3, 2008
s aviation unit is entering the market for small twin-engine turboprop aircraft, which it calls the industry's fastest-growing segment. ...
Checking out GE Aviation's Czech maneuverThe Daily Deal (subscription)
GE Takes On Jet-Engine RivalWall Street Journal
GE Aviation buys Czech turboprop engine makerSan Diego Union Tribune
all 54 news articles

India MCX bourse to trade aviation fuel futures July 7 - Reuters UK

India MCX bourse to trade aviation fuel futures July 7
Reuters UK, UK -13 hours ago
MUMBAI, July 5 (Reuters) - India's Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX) will launch aviation turbine fuel futures from July 7, the bourse said in a press ...
MCX to launch futures on aviation turbine fuel in JulyLivemint
MCX plans to launch future trading in ATFMyiris.com
MCX to launch ATF futures contracts in July - airlines, refineries ...domain-B
all 49 news articles

GE Aviation completes Walter Engines buy - Bizjournals.com

GE Aviation completes Walter Engines buy
Bizjournals.com, NC -Jul 3, 2008
GE Aviation this week finalized its acquisition of certain assets of Czech turboprop manufacturer Walter Engines, the company said Thursday. ...