Shake off your Jet Lag for an energetic start!

Our bodies are finely tuned to our environment in intricate ways – it goes haywire when you take the air routes. The light and dark rhythm of day and night gets disturbed and the body gets confused. If this is your first time traveling by plane, you can be drowned in agony with unexpected jet lag. Here we list out to you a holistic approach to coping with jet lag and to train yourself to better transition into a new time zone.



How long are you going to stay?

If you are just touring the US/ UK for four or fewer days, it is wiser to keep continuing your current sleeping habits in the foreign land too. It would be an enormous stress for the body to adjust back and forth in such short timings – so follow your home clock! If you are going to study or work for much longer, start preparing well in advance so you have ample time to bid goodbyes and get yourself prepared for the change of timings. If you are aiming for an F1 Visa, here is a useful guide to help you out!

Pack your favorite sleeping companion

Many of us have trouble sleeping in new environments. To ease this anxiety, pack something familiar from home, like your favorite pillow or your bedside clock and coffee mug. This will help you doze off without trouble.

Which direction are you flying in?

Surprisingly, the agony of jet lag has something to do with the direction you are flying and how long your trip is. Travelers flying east have worse effects than those going west – eastward travelers are ‘losing’ time and have to practice sleeping, eating and pooping earlier than usual. To train yourself, expose yourself to bright lights in the morning if you are going east; brighten your lights in the evening if you are traveling west.

Two days before your journey...

Avoid heavy, large or spicy meals from 24 hours before your flight. Dehydration is an important symptom of jet lag – to make up for it, sip water consciously every hour that you are in the air. Before your board your flight, adjust your watch to the destination time to prevent a ‘chronological shock.'

In the plane...

If it's night time in your destination when you are flying, plan for some shut eye during the flight. You’ll miss some great views from the clouds above, but trust us – you will not enjoy roaming red eyed for a week. Use eye masks, ear plugs and switch off all electronics to help you sleep. If your flight is over seven hours, you can use sleep aids – but only if your flight is that long.

Reached your destination?

If you reached your destination in the day, gear up and get outdoors. The sunlight has miraculous powers to alter your circadian rhythm and will naturally regulate your body system. Do not nap for longer than 30 minutes in the day – you will be wide awake in midnight and groggy the next morning. Continue with light, balanced and well-spaced meals for two more days.
If you reached your destination in the night, buckle up for a good sleep. Thoroughly check your new room for any unwanted disturbances like bright night lamps or noises. You can take 3 milligrams of melatonin two hours before the destination’s bedtime to trick your body into thinking that it’s time for sleep. It will regulate your sleep cycle.
Get a hot shower before bedtime to relax your muscles. It will also raise your body temperature and make you sleepy.
While jet lag varies by person, you will be exhausted if you don’t listen to your body and respect it. Follow these tricks to begin your new role fresh and energetic!