There are various elements associated with traveling. Of course, we all love the good stuff — food, experiences, meeting people, seeing attractions, and everything in between. However, there are some unsavory parts to traveling long distances. One that impacts people the most is jet lag. Bad jet lag can leave you groggy and grumpy for 2-3 days if not properly dealt with. Don’t worry — this article will provide enough tips to help combat drowsiness so your vacation is off to a roaring start.
1. Hydrate
This one is very self-explanatory. Hydrating is key to beating jet lag. Before you even hop on your flight, you should try to drink an ample amount of water at home. While on the flight, drink more water. Some also mix electrolyte powders with water to provide even more natural energy. By drinking a good amount of water, you will keep your body and brain nourished. The fluids will also help to prevent leg cramps and the annoying side effects often associated with being dehydrated.
2. Rest The Night Before The Flight
Get 8-10 hours of sleep the night before a flight. Or, during the day prior, take a generous nap on top of your usual sleep schedule. As many can attest, sleeping on a plane is not the easiest thing in the world. If you — like the writer of this article — struggle to sleep in an upright position — it would behoove you to grab as much sleep beforehand as possible. Or, you can zig the other way, where you intentionally deprive yourself of sleep at home to try and sleep through much of the flight. Still, the former seems like a better plan all things considered.
3. No Naps Once Your Flight Lands
As much as you probably will want to sleep when you get to your destination, you should avoid doing this. Whether it’s a coffee or some other sort of stimulant, you want to try and stay up at your new destination until it’s time to go to sleep. This way, you can wake up the following morning at the appropriate time. The worst thing you can do is take a nap when you get to your vacation spot. That could lead you to still be on your internal clock from back home. You run the risk of staying up all night, and then being exhausted when the following day begins. In essence, you’d waste a full day of your vacation.
4. Try to Book a Red Eye
This goes hand-in-hand with tips 3 and 4. If you can book a flight that will land during the day at your eventual destination, try to do so. If it involves leaving your departure location towards the evening time, it’s even better. This can allow you to regulate your sleep by dozing off approximately at the same time you normally would. By the time you wake up in your new location, it’ll be during the day — similarly to how you’d approach things back home. Acclimating to the time change is imperative.
