Travelling from one time zone to another can confuse the human body. Often, people who travel on long flights suffer from jet lag. For example, when a person who resides normally in Australia travels to Canada via flight, his sleep time will be very different. The difference in time will confuse his routinely sleep cycle and he’ll end up with lethargy or insomnia. Similarly, he will have to adjust to new eating routines, which will confuse his digestive cycle. Here are a few tips for avoiding this condition.
1. Adjust Your Sleep before the Flight
The best way to avoid jet lag is to stay awake before the flight. Take care of your travelling materials, pack your bags, go for odds and ends; this will help you fall asleep on the plane easily. Sleeping on the plane can help you recharge and quickly adjust to the new time zone.
2. Adjust Your Sleep during Flight
If your flight lands in a time zone where its day time, do not go to sleep. If you sleep, you’ll confuse your body again. However, if it’s night time where you are landing, then stay awake on the plane and sleep after you land.
3. Keep Yourself Hydrated
Avoid dehydration as it can make your jet lag worse. During flight, the humidity levels are less than 20%, making the environment drier than deserts (Guéhenneux, et al., 2012). This makes your body lose water from skin surface. Drinking a glass of water every hour helps you stay hydrated.
4. Avoid Caffeine or Alcohol
If you want coffee or alcohol, drink it before the flight. Drinking caffeine during long flights can dehydrate you furthermore and contribute to jet lag. If you really want coffee, then go for a cup a few hours before the landing when the waitresses serve breakfast.
5. Get Some Exercise
Exercise can help your body relax so that you may go to sleep. If you will be landing around night-time, then move around and exercise on the plane, so that you can go to sleep when you land. If you will be landing during the day, exercise after you land.
6. Set Your Clock Beforehand
A couple of hours before you fly, set your clock time in accordance with your destination time. In this way, you can psychologically fool your body beforehand to adjust to your new time zone. Your body will jump directly to the new time zone, even if you’re flying across the globe.
7. Eat Sensibly
When you’re on the plane eat only if you’re hungry, not because you’re bored. Carry healthy snacks with you, instead of processed snacks. Eating carelessly can cause you to get diarrhoea or even constipation when you land, as it messes with your body routine.
8. Ever tried Fasting?
This one is a personal recommendation, during my travel from UK to Australia, I done some research and tried this tip. I kept a fast (only water allowed) 15 hours before the time I would have breakfast at my destination. It helped improve my sleep quality and help reset the body clock. So basically, just calculate 15 hours before the time you will enjoy your breakfast at your destination, you have a light meal and start your fast. If you try this tip, feedback to the natural health community and let others know how you got on.
9. Consider Natural Jet Lag Remedies
There are a few things derived from organic sources, that people recommend (Wikipedia). Some people believe they are helpful, some find them useless. Try for yourself and see if they’re helpful for you.
10. Avoid Carbs before Flight
Food rich in heavy carbs can induce spikes in insulin levels. This leads to a drop in blood sugar, which can in return cause drowsiness (Sanders, 2015). Protein-rich foods on the other hand can provide you with energy throughout the flight.
Following the tips above, you can not only avoid getting a jet lag, but also enjoy a comfortable flight.
References
1. Guéhenneux, S. et al., 2012. Skin surface hydration decreases rapidly during long distance flights. Skin Research and Technology, 18(2), pp. 238-240.
2. Sanders, L., 2015. Body & brain: Sugar may put you to sleep: Glucose triggers nerve cells to spur drowsiness in mice.. Science News, 8 August, p. 15.
3. Wikipedia. 2016. Jet lag. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_lag. [Accessed 25 February 16].
Author Bio: S.Malik is a health blogger in the UK especially blogging on natural health. He is a content marketer during the day for a healthcare start-up and blogs on topics he is passionate about as a hobby during free time. You can find his published material on various well known health platforms including Natural News on a regular basis.
