Travel Guide: Beating Jet Lag
Traveling and seeing the world is indeed wonderful. Unfortunately, crossing different time zones will leave you with feeling of disorientation, irritability and even changes in your sleep pattern. All of these point to one thing — jet lag.
Since jetlag basically messes with your circadian rhythms, it is not surprising that the body exhibits such symptoms. In some cases, travelers even experience gastrointestinal problems, swollen limbs and dehydration because of jetlag. In order to avoid feeling all these things, consider the following tips:
- Be conscious of the fact that you are suffering from jet lag and make an effort to allow your body to recover its natural rhythm.
- Drink plenty of water and do stretching exercises to keep blood circulation up.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages.
- Go out and enjoy the sunlight instead of locking yourself in your room and watching television.
- Take vitamins and natural supplements such as melatonin before your trip in order to allow you to adjust to the new sleep patterns.
- Eat light meals to avoid stressing your digestive system. Avoid eating too much on the plane.
- Take a nap as soon as you arrive but make sure that it will only take about 45 minutes at the most. If you sleep longer than this, your body will become even more confused.
- Prepare days in advance for the change in sleep pattern by sleeping and waking up earlier than usual.
- Plan your vacation or trip accordingly. Make sure that you do not engage in strenuous activities during the first few days.
- Try to relax since too much excitement and stress can make you feel more disoriented.
Jet lag is something that travelers can live with — as long as they know how to manage it properly.
