How Can I Prevent Jet Lag?

February 5th, 2012

Traveling to another part of the world is often exciting, but sometimes complicated by jet lag.  Essentially, it is your body’s internal clock being out of sync with the daily rhythms of your location.  One of the best ways to prepare your body for this change is to alter your sleep cycle for about a week before.  For example, if you are traveling west, go to sleep a little later each night.  If you are traveling east, get up a little earlier each morning.

Be sure to avoid alcohol a few days before and on the flight, as alcohol can disrupt your brain’s normal functioning.  Though people often say alcohol helps them fall asleep, the quality of sleep under the influence of alcohol is not as restorative.  On the other hand, caffeine can be helpful for staying awake during the process of adjusting to the daytime hours.

After you reach your destination, try to adapt to the local time as best as possible.  Eat meals appropriate to the time of day.  I can’t stress enough the importance of drinking plenty of water, daily aerobic exercise, and exposure to natural sunlight.  Here are some tips on how to exercise while traveling.  If you are staying in a hotel, try to get a room that gets ample sunlight.   Limit computer use at nighttime.  The bright screen of a laptop can stimulate the eye and brain like an artificial sun.