Aviation Information

Jet Lag - 7 Steps To A Successful Trip


Don't let jet lag spoil that much needed holiday trip to paradise or stop you from closing that career enhancing deal you've been working on for months.

Arriving full of excitement and anticipation is great, but finding that you can't sleep at night, you're tired during the day and you've got an upset stomach and a headache can do a lot more than just take the edge off your trip.

If you're seeking ways of preventing jet lag, or looking for the perfect jet lag remedy, then here are seven tips to start you on your search.

Tip 1. Clear the decks before your departure.

A much overlooked aspect of jet lag is the part played by stress. Running around trying to do a 1001 last minute jobs in the week before you fly. Worrying about whether the house will be safe. Sitting up until midnight the night before your flight paying the household bills. Sound familiar?

Plan well in advance and make sure that you've taken care of everything at least three or four days before you go. Then take it easy, get lots of rest and set aside time specifically for relaxation.

Tip 2. Start adjusting your bedtime before you go.

In the two weeks before your trip start to gradually adjust your bedtime. If you're flying east, bring your bedtime forward by ten or fifteen minutes each night so that, by the time you leave, you're going to bed about two hours earlier than normal. This will 'narrow the gap' between the time at which your body wants to go to bed and the time that the clock says you should go to bed at your destination.

Similarly, if you're traveling west, put your bedtime back by ten or fifteen minutes each day.

Tip 3. Reduce you caffeine intake.

Coffee, as well as other caffeinated drinks, both speeds up and slows down your internal body clock, depending upon the time of day that you consume it. When you're settled into a regular pattern of sleep this doesn't necessarily present too much of a problem, as the effects can tend to 'balance out'. However, when your body clock finds itself at odds with local time the effects of caffeine can be quite marked and add considerably to the problems of jet lag.

Tip 4. Avoid Pills.

With the exception of any prescribed medication that you normally take, you should avoid sleeping pills, so-called 'jet lag' pills and over the counter medication for jet lag. Not only do these have little or no beneficial effect, many of them can actually add to your problems.

In particular, avoid the common temptation to take sleeping pills during your flight. They may well help you to get to sleep on the aircraft, but they will add to your problems when you arrive at your destination.

Tip 5. Dress comfortably for your flight.

Choose comfortable and loose fitting clothes to travel in and tuck a pair of slippers into your carry-on luggage to wear on board the aircraft. It's nice to be able to get dressed up and go out once you reach your destination but nobody is going to expect you to get dressed up to the nines while you're traveling.

Tip 6. Get out in the sunshine.

Once you reach your destination get out into daylight as much as possible during the first few days of your trip. Daylight sends powerful signals to your body clock and you'll find that it adjusts far more quickly if it is exposed to the normal cycle of daylight and darkness at your destination. So take advantage of this and don't hide yourself away indoors.

Tip 7. Take something special with you.

It can often be difficult settling in strange surroundings and, in particular, relaxing sufficiently to fall asleep. So, take one or two items of special significance with you, perhaps a family photograph or a favorite bedside ornament, to help give a little bit of the feel of home.

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

Attention Ezine Editors / Website Owners
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website so long as you leave all links intact, do not modify the contentand include the resource box shown above. You may of course use your own affiliate link in the resource box.

For details of our affiliate program, please visit our website at http://help-me-to-sleep.com/affiliates

If you do use this article, please send me a note so that I can take a quick look. Many thanks.

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including "Jet Lag - A Natural Approach". Jet lag ruins many trips, but the solution is simpler than you might think. Click here for more information on Jet Lag


MORE RESOURCES:

Dividend.com

SVG quadruples investment on Jet Aviation sale
Financial News, UK - 8 hours ago
UK-listed private equity manager SVG Capital has earned four times its initial investment from the sale of Swiss company Jet Aviation to a US defence ...
General Dynamics' ratings, outlook not affected by Jet Aviation ... Forbes
Business Flight Boom Drives Jet Aviation Sale Focus on Travel News
General Dynamics to Boost Gulfstream With Jet Aviation Purchase Washington Post
Financial Times - The Associated Press
all 396 news articles


Austin approves general aviation facility for ABIA
Bizjournals.com, NC - 7 hours ago
A California firm has been tapped to build a general aviation facility at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Austin City Council today approved a ...


SHS lands contract for national aviation company
Bizjournals.com, NC - 6 hours ago
Wichita's largest advertising firm had added a national aviation company to its list of clients. As West Star's marketing partner, SHS says it will work to ...


Special Broadcasting Service

Spain crash just the latest trouble for MD-80 aircraft
Newsday, NY - 17 hours ago
Yet aviation experts say the aircraft, which was first manufactured 28 years ago, is sturdy and reliable. And the Federal Aviation Administration won't ...
MD80s seen as 'safe short-haul workhorses' GulfNews
Madrid plane crash: Crash history of MD-80 series Telegraph.co.uk
Some of the deadliest plane crashes on takeoff The Associated Press
RedOrbit
all 88 news articles


Hemscott

Aviation is a good news story for Menzies but the risks are high
Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 1 hour ago
Ten years on and the company, if not losing its link to the media altogether, will soon see that division eclipsed by its aviation business. ...
Menzies interims fall 22% The Herald
John Menzies' profits slide by 26% on expansion costs Times Online
John Menzies sees revenues fly up 10% Edinburgh Evening News
Hemscott - ShareCast
all 9 news articles


PASS Endorses Barack Obama for President
MarketWatch - 11 hours ago
With a focus on matters that impact union members and aviation safety, such as privatization of the aviation system and supporting the workers who keep the ...


Aviation enthusiasts flying high today at Chennault Museum
Monroe News Star, LA - 9 hours ago
National Aviation Week is celebrated during the week of Orville Wright’s birthday and Monroe will celebrate with Aviation Day at the Chennault Aviation and ...
UPDATE, 12:06 pm Plane signals distress, lands safely in Monroe Monroe News Star
all 2 news articles


KCBS

Pilot dies when plane hits CHP building
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 9 hours ago
... when his plane crashed into a California Highway Patrol truck scale building on Highway 101 in Gilroy, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said. ...
Plane crashes into California weigh station Land Line Magazine
Crashed Plane Registered To Palo Alto Man KTVU.com
Feds Probe Fatal Small Plane Crash In San Martin CBS 5
AHN - San Jose Mercury News
all 74 news articles


A car is born at auto show at Aviation Museum
Newsday, NY - 1 hour ago
On Saturday and Sunday, he's bringing about a dozen of his custom cars to the grounds of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in East Garden City for a fun-filled ...


Flight Options Names New Sales Director for the Southeast Region
MarketWatch - 7 hours ago
Mr. Flint grew up in the aviation industry and has spent the last four years as a sales director with an aircraft manufacturer-owned fractional program. ...

Aviation - Google News

home | site map
© 2006