How to deal with jetlag
If you’ve ever travelled by plane for more than a few hours at a time, you are likely familiar with the burden of jetlag. This physiological condition occurs when you travel long-distance and upset your body’s natural circadian rhythm. It can take days to fend off the effects of passing into a new time zone and to readjust your body. There are few simple suggestions you can try to shake the feeling and start enjoying your holiday sooner.
Before Your Trip
Take a few precautions before your actual departure to ensure optimal comfort when you arrive at your destination.
Avoid Alcohol
It may be tempting to throw a bon voyage party the night before you depart, especially if you are leaving for a lengthy period of time, but try to keep drink consumption to a minimum. You are not likely to enjoy your flight with a terrible alcohol-induced migraine or wave of nausea.
Re-adjust Your Sleep
Do yourself a big favor and plan ahead. Try not to stay up late packing the night before, instead opt for a full night of rest and if you are able and try to get yourself on schedule with your destination. If you are travelling west, go to sleep a bit later than usual. If travelling east, try and fall asleep just a bit earlier than usual so you will be on par with the schedule you will soon have.
Pack the Jetlag Necessities
Prepare for the plane by packing these items in your carry-on: a small pillow (or check to see if your flight will offer one), an eyemask, moise-cancelling headphones, a sweater or small blanket, and moisturizer.
You will want all of these items to ensure optimal comfort on the plane and to prepare for your trip.
During the Flight
While you’re on the flight, you will want to have a comfortable experience so that your holiday starts off well.
Get Rest on your Flight
You won’t want to spend the first day of your holiday sleeping in your hotel room because you have been up for too many hours travelling. If you have the means, upgrade to first or business class for the extra leg room; it is worth it. If you can’t afford the extra expense, try to grab a window seat so that you have something to rest on. Your eyemask and noise-cancelling headphones will be of the utmost importance, especially if there is an upset child on the flight. Also, many flights will get chilly so bring a small blanket or check to see if your flight will offer one.
Stay Hydrated
Many flights will suffer from a lack of humidity in the cabin air which leads to dehydration. Drink plenty of water throughout your flight and avoid caffeine. Also, don’t forget about your skin! The dehydration dries out your skin, particularly your hands and face. Pack a travel-sized face cream and hand cream that target dehydration to help combat the dry feeling. Also remember to eat healthy on the flight. Avoid heavy foods and avoid overeating.
No Alcohol
You will very much regret using that bottle of wine to fall asleep as soon as you wake up and land. No amount of preparation and precautions will take care of the puffy eyes, terrible headache, and sheer exhaustion you feel from drinking too much on the flight. Try and avoid alcohol altogether during your flight, but if you must have that free, tasty glass of pinot with your supper, limit yourself to only one.
Opt for a Sleep Aid
Sometimes, no matter how much you have prepared your body, you simply cannot sleep on a flight. Perhaps, try an over-the-counter sleep aid or have your doctor prescribe a mild one so that you can better assist your body in the time change. Always check with your doctor to make sure this is a safe option for you.
Post-Flight
After you step off the plan, use these tips to keep travelling smoothly.
Call your Hotel
If you know that jetlag is inevitable and a nice little snooze is mandatory as soon as you land, check with your hotel and make sure you are able to check in upon arrival. You won’t want to arrive at your hotel at 10 in the morning, suffering from exhaustion, only to find that check-in isn’t until 3. Typically, your hotel will be flexible to accommodate you but it may be a good idea to plan ahead. Also, check your airport. Many hotels simply won’t budge, but some airports offer small sleeping rooms that you can rent for just a few hours to catch up on your sleep.
Indulge Yourself
It may be worth it to splurge on a nicer car service after a long flight. You will thank yourself when you can relax in the back of a beautiful, luxurious car rather than lugging bags through an unfamiliar city while suffering from sleep deprivation.
When You Return Home
After a long and wonderful trip, get back to normalcy as fast as possible.
Plan a Day
While planning your trip, plug in an extra day after you return home to catch up on sleep and get your body readjusted to the time and the exhaustion of travelling. Slip on those fuzzy slippers, sip some hot tea, and relax after such an exciting holiday!
Jetlag is just one of the unavoidable things that can affect your holiday. Prevent anything unexpected from changing your travel plans with a travel insurance policy. You can rest easy knowing everything is taken care of and covered with a policy from youGo Travel Insurance that matches your holiday and travel style.