Minimizing the Effects of Jet Lag

If you’ve ever had to take a long distance flight, there are good chances that you have experienced some degree of jet lag. Jet lag is a condition that affects a person physiologically wherein the quick travel between time zones adversely affects the body’s biological clock.

Therefore, while it might actually be afternoon in your current location, your body would still be used to the time in its previous location (where it could be night), and this would explain your feeling drowsy. However, in cases of severe exhaustion, it an also lead to a person experiencing headaches, feeling groggy, as well as becoming dehydrated.

While there is a plethora of options when it comes to treating jet lag, here’s a list of a few tried and tested methods.

One of the best things you can do is get adequate rest/sleep before embarking upon your flight. You should also ideally get your body used to a specific pattern when it comes to sleeping. Going to sleep and getting up at the same time everyday would help your body’s clock perform better. You can then slowly start making adjustments in you sleep pattern in accordance to the time zone you would be in next.

Your eating habits can also play a role in your experiencing jet lag. If you have a well balanced diet, there are good chances that your body will have the necessary resources in fighting fatigue build up. Also, if your overall fitness levels are good, going through jet lag does become considerably easier.

Exercise is also recommended prior to taking a long flight. While regularly exercising before flying long distances might not take away the effects of jet lag completely, the effects would definitely be less intense.

If your long flight involves you going on a vacation, it would be best if you can manage to distress before making the trip. Make sure you have all your documentation in place well in time. Lower levels of stress will leave you feeling more invigorated; and you surely wouldn’t want to spend the first few days of your vacation in combating jet lag.