Tips For Long Haul Flights - Avoiding Jet Lag

Posted May 13, 2009 by BookingBuddy

Last week, we started a new series, providing you with tips on how to be more comfortable during your long haul flights. This week, we continue that series, this time with some advice on how to minimise jet lag.

Unless you’re one of the lucky few who can claim never to suffer from jet lag after a long haul flight, you’re probably familiar with the effects it can have on your body. Jet lag occurs when you’re travelling over several time zones within a few hours. You may have experienced disturbed sleep patterns, disorientation, or physical weakness. As it often takes at least a couple of days to recover, jet lag can often affect a holiday or business trip. Here are some ideas on how you can cut down on its ill effects.

Changing sleep patterns
A few days before your next flight, find out which direction you’ll be travelling in and try to adjust your sleep patterns. If you’re heading west, your day gets extended, so try to go to bed a few hours later than usual before you board your flight. If you’re going east, your day gets shorter, so try sleeping a little earlier than your usual bedtime. This helps your body acclimatise to your new sleep pattern at your destination.

Stay hydrated
You may be tempted to take advantage of the free alcohol handed out on some flights. However, saying away from it will probably work out much better for you in the long run. Try to also stay away from coffee and tea. These are all diuretics, and in combination with the dry, pressurized cabin air, will cause you to become dehydrated. Dehydration may also cause a headache.
Instead, try and drink as much water as possible. If you find water to be too ‘boring’, ask for the cabin crew if they can squeeze a little lemon into the water, or try some tomato or apple juice.

Keep active
Nobody’s asking you to have a full-scale workout while confined to a plane. Just try to move around as much as possible. Go for a walk every hour or so, and do some stretches. If that’s not always practical (stuck in the middle seat/ sleeping neighbour etc), then do some light exercises such as stretching your limbs, and moving your ankles and wrists, to prevent your joints from stiffening up.

Get natural light
Once you’re at your destination, try and spend as much time outdoors in sunlight as you can. If you’ve arrived during the day, then try to stay up as late as possible, to help reset your body clock. It may be tempting to have a nap straight away, but spending time in daylight will help your body get used to the new time zone much quicker.

So, those are a few tips on minimising jet lag. I’m sure there are many more of you out there who have your own tricks to combat it. I’d love to hear from you, please write them down in the ‘comments’ section.

(Photo: pbase.com)

Categories: Travel Tips