{"id":157932,"date":"2016-07-15T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T13:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/?p=157932"},"modified":"2016-07-25T14:02:41","modified_gmt":"2016-07-25T13:02:41","slug":"how-to-prevent-jet-lag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turkeyalwan.net\/how-to-prevent-jet-lag\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for preventing and fighting jet lag"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday\u00a0newsletters<\/a>\u00a0always feature luxury travel\u00a0contests<\/a>,\u00a0tips<\/a>,\u00a0series<\/a>, or\u00a0news<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today (July 15, 2016): Travel tip: how to prevent and beat jet lag?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Traveling across the globe is an extremely rewarding but also tiring activity that can undermine one’s wellbeing and energy levels. N<\/span>o matter how\u00a0young and healthy you may be, your body always\u00a0need some time to adapt to a new time zone.\u00a0Jet lag, medically referred to as\u00a0desynchronosis\u00a0and rarely as\u00a0circadian dysrhythmia, is the\u00a0unpleasant\u00a0feeling you get during or after a longhaul flight as a result of\u00a0alterations to your body’s\u00a0circadian rhythms. Jet lag can\u00a0put a damper on a vacation since it causes\u00a0fatigue,\u00a0headaches,\u00a0dehydration,\u00a0irritability,\u00a0and digestive problems, so one needs to take precautions to ease its effects.\u00a0<\/span>Being a physician myself, I’ve compiled 18 of the best travel tips which might be helpful in preventing and fighting jet lag.<\/p>\n

If you have any other tips to\u00a0help avoid jet lag, please share them in the comments<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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BEFORE YOU TRAVEL<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n
1. Gradually adjust your internal clock<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

One of the best ways to prepare yourself (and your body) for a journey across several time zones, is to slowly shift your sleeping schedule,\u00a0<\/span>so that by the time you arrive, you\u2019re already acclimated.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>For eastbound travel (e.g. Europe to Asia, or America to Europe), it is recommended to\u00a0get up and go to bed earlier several days prior to the\u00a0trip.\u00a0<\/span>When you travel in a western direction (e.g. Asia to Africa, or Europe to America), then you need to do the opposite and push your<\/span>\u00a0sleeping schedule<\/span>\u00a0backward to a later time\u00a0in the days preceding your travel.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Plan your arrival time<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

If you are flexible in your travel plans, then always try to arrive at your destination in the afternoon or early evening. That way, you can still have a decent dinner and a good night\u2019s rest on the day of arrival, before immediately submerging yourself in the time zone of your destination the following day. The worst jet lags I experienced were those were I arrived early morning at a destination after missing a whole night of sleep (e.g. flight from the USA East Coast to Europe).<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Avoid overnight flights<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Jet lag is always tougher when flying\u00a0from west to east (since you lose time). One of the best strategies\u00a0to prevent an eastbound jet lag is to avoid those horrible, overnight, redeye flights, that will cost you several hours of sleep in less than optimal conditions (especially when you have troubles falling asleep on a plane like me). Although some routes are generally known to the larger public as redeye flights, there are often dayflight alternatives \u00a0as well (e.g. from\u00a0Chicago, Washington or New York to London). If a daylight is not offered, then book a redeye flight with an arrival time that coincides with late afternoon or evening at your destination (cf above).<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Avoid a\u00a0stressful departure<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

O<\/span>ne of the most effective ways to cope with\u00a0jet lag is leaving on a trip in a relaxed state of mind.\u00a0<\/span>Planning your holiday immediately after a tiring, stressful week considerably increases the probability of a nasty jet lag.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Consider flying Business or First Class<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

For most, flying Business or First Class is a\u00a0privilege and pure delight. The\u00a0premium cabins offer delicious\u00a0food, more privacy and\u00a0excellent onboard service, in addition to an enhanced ground experience with priority check-in, fast lanes at security check points, and access to lounges. However, the main reason to fly Business or First Class is the extra comfort of having a flatbed which can make a world of difference on the jet lag front since you can actually snuggle down for\u00a0a\u00a0perfect night’s sleep on a plane.\u00a0Sleeping attributes are excellent as well, with fluffy pillows, soft duvets and cozy pajamas.\u00a0<\/span>I previously explained\u00a0how\u00a0to\u00a0fly Business or First Class without breaking your wallet<\/a>. However, if\u00a0<\/span>you can\u2019t avoid coach, opt for a window seat and bring a pillow (or something that can act as\u00a0one) to prop yourself up against the cabin’s wall.<\/span><\/p>\n