I absolutely swear by a book called “Overcoming Jet Lag” by Ehret and Scanlon. It is available on Amazon. It has a scientifically proven method of overcoming the exhaustion and nausea of changing time zones. I have used their program succesfully to Bali, New Zealand, Australia, and of course Europe. You change your eating and caffeine consumption without the aid of sleeep aids and it is very EASY TO FOLLOW!
Revive with a nap. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and heavy foods before you go to sleep, and try to adjust right away to the new time zone by hitting the hay when it’s bed time THERE.
Most people adjust one hour per day. Your first and best step is to try to stay awake (or go to sleep) on the local schedule as much as you can. I find using a sleep aid for the first few days to be extremely useful. Get outside and get sunlight on your eyes (helps reset the circadian clock). For short trips (2-3 days), I keep myself on my “local” time to the degree possible. Longer trips, I adjust as much and as fast as my body will allow. Be gentle with yourself!
First of all, avoid drinking caffein or alcohol during your flight as well as the day before. Drink lots of water….very important!! When you arrive at your destination, take in as much natural light as possible. If you arrive at night, try to get some rest even if you’re not tired.
I live in the west, so my tactic is this – if I’m flying to Europe or further, I sleep as much as possible on the plane. As a rule, we always land early morning or midday and need to stay awake so we can check into our hotel. If I sleep a lot (I even take melatonin, which works for me, prior to takeoff) on the way east, when I land, I’m better equipped to sightsee, check into the hotel and grab some meals to revive myself. On the way back to the west coast, no matter how hard it is, I try to stay awake the entire time and when I get home, I make myself stay up until 9pm no matter what time my body says it is. Strangely, this routine has worked for me for the past 20 years!
I don’t know that there’s anyway to completely avoid jet lag, but getting on to the new time schedule as quickly as possible has always been a key for me.
Gradually get yourself into the time zone of the destination you are heading to, then sleep and eat accordingly (as best you can.) On the first day in the destination, fresh air and light exercise helps you refresh and reenergize.
1. Drink lots of water during the flight.
2. Don’t drink alcohol during the flight.
3. If the jet lag occurs upon arrival in Europe, I go to bed as soon as possible after arriving and sleep til dinnertime. Then, I have a nice dinner (with wine) and go back to bed (sometimes taking a sleeping pill). I sleep til the morning and I’m fine afterward.
4. Not sure what to do about jet lag when returning from Asia, other than #1 and #2.
I have heard Klonopin re-sets the body clock….but you would need to discuss this with your doctor.
I have tried all kinds of things. The best way for me is to take a 2 hour nap upon my arrival at my destination. Then get up and go out to walk, work, or sight-see. I try to go to sleep at my normal time – in the new time zone. Does not always work but I am very thankful when it does.
11 Answers
Victoria Salti Wilson wrote on :
Water & rest are a start. Avoid alcohol and eat right to make sure you don’t get sick.
lucy@whereonearthtravel.com wrote on :
I absolutely swear by a book called “Overcoming Jet Lag” by Ehret and Scanlon. It is available on Amazon. It has a scientifically proven method of overcoming the exhaustion and nausea of changing time zones. I have used their program succesfully to Bali, New Zealand, Australia, and of course Europe. You change your eating and caffeine consumption without the aid of sleeep aids and it is very EASY TO FOLLOW!
Tannis Kobrinsky wrote on :
Revive with a nap. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and heavy foods before you go to sleep, and try to adjust right away to the new time zone by hitting the hay when it’s bed time THERE.
Wendy VanHatten wrote on :
drink lots of water and no alcohol on the plane…I don’t nap when I arrive but I sleep well on planes. I set my clock to local time and go from there.
Patricia Shannon wrote on :
Most people adjust one hour per day. Your first and best step is to try to stay awake (or go to sleep) on the local schedule as much as you can. I find using a sleep aid for the first few days to be extremely useful. Get outside and get sunlight on your eyes (helps reset the circadian clock). For short trips (2-3 days), I keep myself on my “local” time to the degree possible. Longer trips, I adjust as much and as fast as my body will allow. Be gentle with yourself!
Carolporteraz wrote on :
First of all, avoid drinking caffein or alcohol during your flight as well as the day before. Drink lots of water….very important!! When you arrive at your destination, take in as much natural light as possible. If you arrive at night, try to get some rest even if you’re not tired.
Jeanna Hofmeister wrote on :
I live in the west, so my tactic is this – if I’m flying to Europe or further, I sleep as much as possible on the plane. As a rule, we always land early morning or midday and need to stay awake so we can check into our hotel. If I sleep a lot (I even take melatonin, which works for me, prior to takeoff) on the way east, when I land, I’m better equipped to sightsee, check into the hotel and grab some meals to revive myself. On the way back to the west coast, no matter how hard it is, I try to stay awake the entire time and when I get home, I make myself stay up until 9pm no matter what time my body says it is. Strangely, this routine has worked for me for the past 20 years!
I don’t know that there’s anyway to completely avoid jet lag, but getting on to the new time schedule as quickly as possible has always been a key for me.
Anne Dimon wrote on :
Gradually get yourself into the time zone of the destination you are heading to, then sleep and eat accordingly (as best you can.) On the first day in the destination, fresh air and light exercise helps you refresh and reenergize.
Ellen Falkenberry wrote on :
1. Drink lots of water during the flight.
2. Don’t drink alcohol during the flight.
3. If the jet lag occurs upon arrival in Europe, I go to bed as soon as possible after arriving and sleep til dinnertime. Then, I have a nice dinner (with wine) and go back to bed (sometimes taking a sleeping pill). I sleep til the morning and I’m fine afterward.
4. Not sure what to do about jet lag when returning from Asia, other than #1 and #2.
I have heard Klonopin re-sets the body clock….but you would need to discuss this with your doctor.
PatWalkerSF wrote on :
I have tried all kinds of things. The best way for me is to take a 2 hour nap upon my arrival at my destination. Then get up and go out to walk, work, or sight-see. I try to go to sleep at my normal time – in the new time zone. Does not always work but I am very thankful when it does.
Dralene "Red" Hughes wrote on :
Check out this site for some helpful tips:
http://www.frommers.com/articles/6887.html