If you are a frequent flier or international traveller, you know the feeling of jet lag all too well. The feeling of excitement once you step off the plane suddenly shifts to fatigue and you find yourself wanting to go to bed when it’s really lunchtime in your new city and your body clock is now out of sync.
The movement between time zones can cause havoc to your body so what you really need is a whole day to give your body the time it needs to adjust to your new time zone.
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Is jet lag worse travelling to certain countries?
You may have heard the saying – west is best and east is beast, and this is true. The symptoms of jet lag are worse when you’re flying east than west. Your body is more equipped flying west because it causes the body to think the day is longer and flying east causes it to think the day is shorter.
Jet lag can ruin your holiday vibes, but the online pharmacy, Pharmica have come up with a few ways to help you overcome your jet lag.
- Home Preparation
To help combat jetlag, it all starts at home with a little preparation. Try to sleep and wake up earlier for a few nights before you fly when travelling east and stay awake and wake up later when flying west to help your body adapt to its new rhythm when you reach your destination.
- Avoid arriving at night
If you can, find a flight that arrives in the day. That way, you are more likely to stay awake if you have a whole day ahead of you so you can explore whilst the sun is out.
- Adapt to your new time zone
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Set your watch to the local time of your destination as soon as you get onto the flight. Try to stay awake if it’s daylight where you’re going and sleep if it’s night time.
Even after the flight, the best way to overcome your jetlag is to adjust to the time zone of your destination. It might be tempting to sleep the whole day if you’ve landed in the morning but being in the daylight will help combat your tiredness. Try not to think about the time back at home and allow your body to get into the rhythm of your destination.
- Stay Hydrated
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Drinking plenty of water before, during and after flying is extremely important. You’ll know that airplanes can be quite drying for your skin and can make you dehydrated. Try to drink as much water as you can and avoid drinking alcohol. You may find that glass of wine will help you sleep but what it does is dehydrate you and make it even harder for you to beat jet lag.
- Don’t overeat
Carbohydrate-rich or high-fat meals are more likely to make you feel tired and heavy which is difficult to digest and could lead to a sleepless night on the flight. It might be tempting to indulge in fast food before the flight or during a stopover but pick more protein-rich, complex carbohydrate foods. It’s advisable to pack some healthy snacks as well.
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- Consider melatonin
Melatonin is secreted naturally in our bodies to help regulate our sleep-wake cycle. Your body clock will take some time to adjust but taking Melatonin tablets such as MidNite may help to overcome the time zone gap which can help you to sleep better at night.
If you would like more information about Melatonin, you can visit the Pharmica website.
