How to Beat Jet Lag: Tips and Cures – Flight Layaway

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At Flightlayaway, we love air travel and everything about it. But, even we can admit that jet lag is a major downside to any trip where the time zone changes by three hours or more.

Jet lag will leave you feeling groggy, grumpy, and grouchy. And, with more online tips on how to avoid jet lag than there are flights in a day, it can be tricky to figure out the best approach to take.

But, don’t stress. We’ve done all the hard work and compiled a list of the best tips to overcome jet lag, with expert advice from our own experience, as well as from other travel and sleep experts.

Adjust to sunlight

One of the best ways you can beat jet lag is to adjust to the sunlight in the destination that you’re visiting. Sleep fanatic Craig Anderson suggests “when in a new timezone, try to get outside for a walk in the morning, and at dusk. Using these natural environments helps signal the time of day to your mind and body.”

So, make sure you stay outside and exposed to natural light on the first few days that you’re away. Although it might be tough when you’re tired, see it as another great reason to get out and watch the sunrise and sunset!

Flight Departure and arrivals tips

A red-eye flight is a flight that departs in the evening (local time) and arrives in the morning (local time). If you can get a red-eye flight and sleep for the entirety of your journey, you might be able to avoid jet lag altogether.

So, here’s a few tips that will help you:

·         Drink water — Low cabin humidity and altitude of the plane makes you more susceptible to dehydration. Drink lots of water before and at the start of your flight so that you can stay hydrated and sleep easier.

·         Avoid caffeine — Getting to sleep on a flight can be hard enough as it is, so don’t make it any harder by drinking caffeinated drinks before or during your flight. We know it might be hard to function for a morning flight without that much-needed early morning cup of coffee, but trust us, you’ll regret it when you’re tossing and turning in your seat.

·         Choose a window seat — When you’re trying to get to sleep, the last thing you want is the people next to you waking you up so they can get past to the toilet, especially on long-haul flights. Pre-booking your seat allows you to choose a seat next to a window and stops people from bothering you.

·         Take a book for in-flight entertainment — In-flight TV screens and electronic devices produce blue light, which sends a message to the brain to be awake and alert. Blue light also stops your body from producing melatonin, which is the hormone that helps you sleep.

·         Upgrade your travel class — If you can afford to, upgrade your travel class for a bigger and more comfortable seat. Although the lie-flat beds of First Class and Business Class are the best choice, even an upgrade to Premium Economy can make all the difference

·         Get rest before your flight — Another tip for those who can’t sleep on the plane is to get good rest before your flight. If you don’t sleep on the flight and only get a few hours the night before, you’re at risk of becoming overtired and won’t feel refreshed when you eventually do get your first night’s sleep.

·         Don’t nap after your flight — Napping after your flight is a short-term gain but long-term pain. If you do have a flight that arrives in the day, no matter how tired you are, don’t nap

Adjust your actual clock pre-flight

Some claim that jet-lag is more mind over matter than anything and that adjusting the time on your phone or watch before your flight can help you mentally prepare for the time change. This way, even when doing small things like checking to see how much longer of your flight is left, you’ll already be thinking in terms of your new time-zone.

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