Jet Lag ? 5 Pre-travel Steps to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag

Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying and you will soon discover that everyone has a different "magic" formula for overcoming or avoiding jet lag.

In reality of course no magic formula exists ? and there is certainly no magic pill or tablet. There is, however, a great deal that you can do in preparation for your departure to help you overcome or eliminate jet lag and here are just a few tips:

1. Maintain a consistent sleep pattern.

If you are not following a consistent routine in the days and weeks before your journey (going to bed and getting up at the same time each day) your body's internal clock will be disrupted even before you start your journey and your flight will simply magnify the effects of insomnia induced by jet lag.

2. Ensure you are getting a balanced and healthy diet.

Diet plays an important role in ensuring that you get a good night's sleep and an appropriate balance of whole grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables in your diet is essential.

Alcohol and caffeine are two elements of your diet that are particularly important in relation to jet lag and these should be reduced, or eliminated, in the run-up to your journey if at all possible. If, however, asking you to give up your twelve cups of coffee each day is rather like asking you to cut off your right hand, then try to limit your intake to the afternoon between about 3 pm and 5 pm.

Caffeine when taken late in the day tends to speed up your body clock, while taking it in the morning has the opposite effect. Taken during the middle of the day, caffeine has little or no effect on your body's circadian rhythms.

3. Take regular exercise.

Regular exercise can significantly improve the consistency, quality and duration of your normal sleep cycle. Some form of daily aerobic exercise, lasting at least twenty minutes, will go a long way to preparing your body for your forthcoming journey.

4. Start to slowly adjust your bedtime.

You should begin to "manage" your body clock by gradually and slowly adjusting your bedtime and wake up time in the days before your journey, to bring these into line with the local time at your destination.

If, for example, you normally go to bed at 10 pm and you are flying to a country that is four hours ahead, at your normal bedtime the time at your destination will be 2 am. So, in this case, you need to slowly bring your bedtime forward a little bit (say fifteen minutes) each night for a week or ten days before your departure. This might mean that immediately prior to leaving you are going to bed at say 7.30 pm. However, when you arrive at your destination this will mean that you are now going to bed at 11.30 pm and that you have narrowed the four hour time difference to just one and a half hours.

5. Reduce stress in the days before traveling.

One often overlooked factor in the jet lag equation is that of stress and much of this stress is a direct result of the journey itself. How many times have you found yourself running around at the last minute trying to do 1001 things at once?

Plan ahead and make sure that, as far as is possible, everything that you need to do both at home and at works is completed well in advance of your journey. In planning for your journey, clear as much as you can as early as you can and make specific time available in your pre-journey planning for plenty of relaxation in the days immediately prior to your departure.

These are just a few examples of things that you should pay attention to when planning any long-haul trip and, together with other specific measures taken both during your flight and following your arrival, will considerably reduce the effects of jet lag, or even lead to no jet lag at all!

Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders - http://help-me-to-sleep.com

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health-related publications looking in detail at curing insomnia and managing other common sleep disorders. Drop by for more information on jet lag and to pick up your free copy of "How To Get A Good Night's Sleep".

---

New Airbus A-380 Beats Out 747

The A-380 has beat out the Boeing 747 as a... Read More

Moving Troops and Evacuation Strategies

There are many ways to evacuate people from disasters like... Read More

NASA SATS for Point-to-Point Air Travel Solutions

It appears NASA's studies of the future of air travel... Read More

Getting Cheap Airfares

Airlines offer tickets at a fraction of the cost you... Read More

Do Jet Lag Diets Work?

Anti jet lag diets have been around for some time... Read More

17 Ways to Keep Safe and Secure When Flying

Here are 17 ways to keep safe and secure when... Read More

India Air Traffic Issues to Come

As India increases its economic growth the population is taking... Read More

Flying As A Hobby

Ask a room full of people what hobby they have... Read More

Starting an Aircraft Washing Business

So you love airplanes and you want to start an... Read More

Several Facts to Obtaining Cheap Airfares

AirfaresNeed a vacation but dont want to stay around town?... Read More

What Causes Jet Lag?

Jet lag is a common sleep disorder suffered by many... Read More

FAA Intervention in Privatized Space Flight is Ridiculous

Burt Rutan and his team of designers, engineers and test... Read More

Hypersonic or Ultrasonic Sound to Disrupt Laser Beam Attack on Commercial Airliners

In large buildings to prevent sound pollution often double paned... Read More

Fuselage Mounted Laser Vortex Enhancer Directed to Airfoils

DARPA has developed a small laser cannon, just like Star... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part V: Tips on Finding Work

I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic... Read More

Helicopters Outfitted With Airbags

You know those airbags in your car? Did you know... Read More

Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part IV

In conclusion of this young man who crashed a single... Read More

Airlines, Price Wars, and Branding

Here are some thoughts on the study of the theory... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part II: Pay Rates for Flight Attendants

Pay. You know that aviation pays better than commercial, in... Read More

Fighter Jet Trainers Sport Planes

You want a fighter jet as your personal aircraft; do... Read More

A380 Bathrooms

Bathroom seat with a view; That's right! The all-new A-380... Read More

Find Cheap Tickets From all the Major Airlines

All of the major airlines are now associated with different... Read More

Whos Paying for the Private Jet?

One of the major perks of being a celebrity is... Read More

Jet Lag ? 5 Pre-travel Steps to Reduce the Effects of Jet Lag

Ask any regular long-haul flyer about their experience of flying... Read More

Entering Business Aviation, Part IV: Crafting a Resume

Writing a résumé can be one of the most daunting... Read More

Sex in a Cessna, Part II

Sex in a Cessna or any light plane can be... Read More

Cheap Airline Tickets! With Internet Access, The Skies The Limit For Great Deals

With easy access to the Internet, the convenience of finding... Read More

Concorde Crash Conspiracy - It Could Have Been Prevented

In studying the Concorde crash the investigators determined it was... Read More

Cracking Aircraft Windows with Directed Sound Waves

Today our modern military scientists have found many uses for... Read More

Airbus to Build $600 Million Aircraft Manufacturing Plant in US

Airbus has announced that it will build a $600 million... Read More

Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part III

What caused a teenager to crash an aircraft into the... Read More

Flying VS Driving

When fuel costs are so high, people favor flying to... Read More

Airport Noise Reduction

Do you live near an airport and cannot stand the... Read More