What Are the Symptoms and How to Avoid Jet Lag?
You have just finished planning the perfect vacation, you purchase the trip, get on a plane, arrive at your destination, and now you are tired. What happened? The plan was to hit the ground running and enjoying every minute of your vacation. What you have just experienced is called Jet Lag and it can be avoided. The online Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes jet lag as “a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and probably results from disruption or circadian rhythms in the human body”.
I have worked in the airline industry for over 20 years and it happens to us also. With some good planning and knowledge, you can discover your symptoms and how to avoid jet lag. Jet lag occurs when traveling threw multiple time zones and in either direction. You may get to your destination and notice that your sleep pattern in altered. You cannot sleep or you are going to sleep later or earlier, then waking up earlier or later in the day. You may start to get headaches, feel irritable, cannot concentrate or get stressed out quickly. You may start to feel lazy or just have no energy during the day or night. If you experienced any of the above symptoms, you have jet lag.
Everyone is different physically and mentally, so you will have to find a remedy that works for you. Personally, sleep works for me. I adjust my schedule before I leave to make sure I get the maximum amount of sleep possible before I leave, then I always make sure I relax on the plane. Of course where you sit on the plane helps with your onboard experience and avoiding jet lag. But some other remedies are avoiding early at your destination, this gives your body time to adjust to the new time zone. Stay hydrated and avoid drinking too much alcohol or caffeine on the flight, this helps counter the effect of cabin pressure while promoting sleep. With the new aircraft coming out today; especially the Boeing 787, this was one of the main highlights of the plane because it provides better cleaner air. Try to avoid bright lights, if you are traveling East try to much sunlight in the morning and if you are traveling West try to avoid too much sunlight hours before sunset. Another advantage the Boeing 787 offers is LED ambient lighting, so it can emulate day and night time lighting from the point of origin making your body feel like it’s still in the natural time zone.
As you can see, there is no one sure way to avoid jet lag on airplane travel; except if you get lucky and fly on a Boeing 787, but there are things you can do to reduce that weary feeling. By trying some of the remedies of avoiding jet lag you can reduce your chances of getting and enjoy your vacation. You need to recognize what symptoms of jet lag you commonly experience, then get a solution that will work for you.
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References
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, (2014) Retrieved from:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jet%20lag