Today we are fortunate enough to be able to travel anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. It would have been impossible to think of this being a reality before the invention of aviation, as it would have been impossible to think of a temporary sleep disturbance such as jet lag.
Jet lag is an internal imbalance that can manifest itself when a person takes a long-haul flight.. It is generally considered to begin to occur when more than three time zones are crossed, disrupting the normal rhythms of the internal biological clock. In this article we will see different effective ways to combat and overcome jet lag when traveling by plane.
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8 ways to prevent and recover from the symptoms caused by jet lag
The jet lag that can be suffered on long-haul flights can give an undesirable symptomatology in our body.. Having to adapt to a new time zone can lead to sleep disturbances, but also irritability, nausea or even headaches and stomach discomfort.
Whether traveling for business or pleasure, the symptoms of jet lag are very unwelcome. It is therefore in our best interest to do what we can to reduce or avoid the effects of jet lag on our health and quality of life. Fortunately, there are a number of tips to combat and overcome the effects of jet lag.
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1. Start changing our schedule before the trip.
A good strategy to avoid suffering so much jet lag is to prepare ourselves before the trip, beyond packing our bags. Organizing our new schedules in advance can lead to a much better adaptation to the new schedule..
For example, we can start changing meal and bedtime schedules little by little. Once you arrive at your destination, just two or three hours can be the key to an effective adaptation from the first day.
2. Change the “chip” of the timetable just after departure
It is a great idea to change the time on your watch to the time at your destination immediately after the plane takes off.. Starting to be aware of the new time before arrival is very positive to adapt and anticipate our behavior.
For example, if we see that the day is going to be long, our mind will be more inclined to sleep and rest on the plane than if we had not visualized it.
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3. Gradually adapt to new schedules
Once you have arrived at your destination, it is recommended to readjust your schedule a little each day instead of doing it all at once.. Minimizing the change by adapting our schedule by one hour each day can help us to make jet lag less severe.
By the way, it is relevant to note that if we travel westward, according to the sunlight, the change will be minimal. Flying east is when the effects of jet lag worsen, so it is more necessary to combat the effects of jet lag.
4. Bring what you need to sleep on the plane
We advise you to prepare some accessories to help you fall asleep if you wish to do so.. If you have trouble sleeping in a place like an airplane, bringing earplugs, an eye mask and a neck pillow can be a great idea.
Other ideas might be something to cover up so you don’t get cold, such as a light blanket or sweatshirt, or socks to keep your feet warm. Some long-haul airlines are already offering such accessories.
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5. Hydrate well
Everything involved in air travel sometimes makes us forget something as basic as hydration, and once on the plane we don’t want to pay high prices.
Drinking water regularly is essential for our health, as dehydration can worsen the symptoms of jet lag.. In addition, the air conditioning on the plane tends to accelerate our dehydration.
It is recommended to drink water before, during and after the trip, reducing coffee, soft drinks and alcohol as much as possible.
6. Eat well and lightly
In demanding moments for our body, we must help it with easy and quality digestion.. So that our body can focus on recovering and purifying itself, eating light and healthy food will be of great help.
Eating at the right time, trying to adapt as soon as possible to new schedules, will be of great help as opposed to snacking between meals.
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7. Go organized so as not to stress our body too much.
On a plane trip we are exposed to stimuli that put our body under pressure. A flight involves certain stressors, sometimes unavoidable, such as the inhalation of volatile substances from fuels or exposure to radiation.
On the other hand, last minute incidents at the airport or on the road can cause stress. To respect our health as much as possible, it is advisable to organize our schedules to avoid surprises and to anticipate them..
Feeling anxious for fear of not being able to take the plane can make our recovery after jet lag longer and more difficult.
8. Allow our body to recover
When you arrive at your destination do not demand too much activity from your body and mind.. Instead of arriving and going directly to work meetings or to practice some kind of demanding activity. Relax at your home or accommodation and get yourself ready to start the next day as new.
A hot bath, a light dinner or even a massage to relax your muscles and calm your nerves is a great help. The lymphatic system, the hormonal system, the nervous system and the immune system will thank you.
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Referencias bibliográficas
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Mrosovsky, N. y Salmon, P.A. (1987). A behavioral method for accelerating re-entrainment of rythms to new light-dark cycles, 330, 372-373.
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Van Gelder, R. (2006) Timeless genes and jetlag. En: Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 103 (47), S. 17583–17584.
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Waterhouse, J. (1999). Jet-lag and shift work: Circadian rhythms. En: J R Soc Med, 92 (8), 398–401.
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Waterhouse, J., Edwards, B., Nevill, A., Carvalho, S., Atkinson, G., Buckley, P., Reilly, T., Godfrey, R. y Ramsay, R. (2002). Identifying some determinants of “jet lag” and its symptoms: A study of athletes and other travellers. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 36 (1), 54–60.