JETSETTER ALERT

Summertime is here and many of you are planning your summer getaways, you should also be planning on how to manage your jet lag and keep it to a minimum.  Let's face it, jet lag can be a real drag, no rhyme intended but it can put a damper on your vacation if you aren't feeling your best.

A big heads up to those of you traveling west to east, the recovery time is harder, if going east to west the recovery time is 30-50% quicker.  Despite which direction you're headed I want to help make sure it's a great trip!

If you're a "Morning Person" you already have an advantage.  Early risers are always ready to go no matter the hour and are able to keep going on less sleep.  Ouch, but yes, younger people recover faster from jet lag too.  People still in their younger years haven't had their "circadian rhythms" messed up yet, making them more resilient and able to adapt to new Time Zones faster.

Ok, so  maybe you are more like myself, not so young anymore, and not a so called "Morning Person".  Don't worry I have some tips for you to make your summer vacation rock with you awake and loving life.

You should reset your clocks to the time it is in your destination.  It is not good for your brain to realize it's 1am at home while the flight attendant is serving you breakfast before your flight lands in the South of France.


If you're arriving in the morning sleep on the flight.  Easier said then done, try slipping off your shoes, wrapping up in a blanket, leaning your seat back and bring some headphones to keep out the noise.  If you will be landing at night, stay up.  I always download movies to my ipad, or watch as many in flight movies as I can stand.  No alcohol or caffeine, both will keep you awake.

Skip the Champagne and always drink lots of water.  Being on an airplane makes you dehydrated, which will only  make you feel worse.

 

Once you've arrived at your desired local, no matter how much you are dying to take a nap, do not race up to your room.  Go out, mix it up, revel in your new surroundings.   This will help stimulate the chemical changes to take place in your brain faster, so that you adapt to your new time zone more quickly.

 

If it is Daytime, try and get some sun.  Sunlight has natural vitamins and is a powerful stimulant to help regulate your biological time clock and will remind you that you should be awake.

Good Luck and Happy Travels.  If you are able, make sure you are staying somewhere that has a great mattress.  I recently stayed at The Royal Park in London and had the opportunity to sleep on a Vi-Spring.  I can honestly say it helped me over my jet lag faster.