Traveling across different timezones may be an exciting way of life but the adventure is typically accompanied by fatigue, insomnia, and difficulty focusing. There is also the added stress of not knowing whether to push through and go to sleep at your usual bedtime or to try and catch up on sleep as quickly as possible.
Here are some of the best tips for coping with jet lag.
Change Your Clock On The Plane
The moment you have sat down on the plane, adjust the clock on your phone to the time zone in your destination. This psychologically prepares you for the shift.
Move Your Bedtime Before You Leave
If you are traveling west to east, start moving your bedtime back a little later each day in the runup to your return home. This will help your body adjust to the new timezone before you even get there. If you are going east to west, do the opposite.
Give Yourself Time to Adjust
If you are anticipating jet lag, designate some time for your body to recover. Don’t make any big plans on the first couple of days and allow yourself the space to get a good night’s sleep.
Avoid Caffeine
While you are adjusting, it is best to avoid caffeine. Having a coffee in the evening to keep you awake until bedtime may be tempting, but you also risk keeping yourself up all night.
Relax
When you are wide awake in bed at 2 am, it can be anxiety-inducing. Try and give yourself a break and avoid stressing unnecessarily. Take a bath before bed, listen to your favorite sleep meditation, and try not to get worked up if you can’t immediately get back into your usual routine. It will happen.