Jetlag can have a disastrous effect on your vacation as well as making business trips a flop. Understanding why time zone jumping causes your body to react and what to do to help reduce the effects of jetlag can make any travel more enjoyable.
Jetlag happens because you move through time zones. Travelers flying north to south, or vice versa have much less jetlag impact because while they may be flying into a different weather pattern, the time hasn’t changed. Time is important because it is a way of measuring daylight. Travelers flying west to east have the greatest occurrences of jet lag because the day is lengthened by several hours. The same thing occurs when you drive from Honda Prelude Toronto to Honda Prelude Vancouver for example. It means there will be more daylight for a longer portion of the day than the body is accustomed to, which in turn means less sleep.
One of the main ways to decrease jetlag is to make sure you get plenty of sleep prior to leaving on your vacation. If the trip includes an extreme jump in time zones, on an intercontinental flight for example, it is a good idea to sleep during the trip, and at your destination as well to lessen the effects of jetlag on your body. Plan on starting your real vacation a day after you arrive when you wake-up at the appropriate hour in the morning. You will feel more refreshed and your body will accept the new time more readily after a long refreshing sleep.
How you feel during your flight will have an impact on you as well. Traveling in ill health only makes it harder for the body to adjust. Avoid travel when you have a cold or other illnesses if at all possible. Wear loose comfortable clothing when traveling so that you can shift and move about easier even in cramped seating. Don’t drink alcohol prior to flight or during your trip. As tempting as it is, the effects of alcohol are increased by the cabin pressure on an airplane. Avoiding caffeine will help as well. Caffeine stimulates the body making it harder to sleep and it also dehydrates you making it harder for your body to adjust.
If you have enough advance notice before a trip give yourself a gradual time adjustment by resetting your clocks and watches slowly over a few days to reflect the new time you will be traveling into. This creates a ‘false’ time in your present location but your body will be set to the new time on your arrival spot creating an easier transition.
Lastly remember that not all air travel is equal. When taking a trip that will obviously cause a greater impact especially across oceans and between continents split up the flights if possible. Creating your own layovers allows you to get a good night sleep in-between legs of your trip and gives your body more time to adjust. If you cannot break up the journey, or do not wish to prolong your trip with a layover, travel at night. The lack of sunlight during your trip and when you arrive at your destination will help to lessen the effects of jetlag caused by longer days.
These methods can help both the vacationer and the business traveler to handle the difficulties of long distance flights and make business trips and vacations a lot more enjoyable.
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