10 Tips on How to Avoid Jet Lag

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Whether you’re a frequent flyer or planning your first vacation overseas, you are going to struggle with “jet lag” when you arrive. Flying from the US to Europe, you’ll change your watch 6 or more hours forward and your body will rebel.

Watches and cell phones are easy to adjust, but body clocks don’t reset so easily. Suddenly, after crossing the Atlantic, you’ll be hungry at midnight and sleepy at lunchtime. Ugh.

Symptoms of jet lag

couple on a plane sleeping, one of the best tips to avoid jet lag

Jet lag doesn’t only affect sleep and hunger, either. Recovery and healing occur overnight, so it also disturbs your body’s ability to do its normal maintenance

If you’ll have more than a 2-hour time change, you may notice these jet lag symptoms:

  • Lack of appetite
  • Inability to focus
  • Headaches
  • Daytime drowsiness
  • Insomnia
  • Waking up too early
  • Irritability

No, you’re not getting sick. It’s just jet lag.

Balinese vendor sleeping in her shop

What causes jet lag?

Basically, our bodies work on “circadian rhythm,” meaning that our bodies, minds, and behavior are on a 24-hour daily cycle. Everything about us is affected by our exposure to daylight and help determine when we sleep and when we wake. Circadian rhythms are found in most living things, including animals, plants, and even tiny microbes.

How can you avoid jet lag?

We’ve done a lot of time zone hopping since we moved to Bali in 2010, and have learned quite a few tricks to help us overcome jet lag.

Here’s what we’ve learned: You can’t avoid jet lag, but you can minimize the symptoms.

To save you the agony of trying things that don’t work – like we did – here are 10 tips that do!

1. Adjust your body clock beforehand.

You can't prevent jet lag from crossing US to Europe or Asia but you can minimize jet lag symptoms. Background shows a person adjusting his watch. text says new york paris tokyo

The most effective natural jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine before you leave. Begin adjusting your body clock a few days before the trip. All you’ll need to do is gradually adjust your sleep and eating times  to coincide with those at your destination.

If you’re flying east (US to Europe), eat, and go to bed an hour earlier each night. If you’re flying west, do everything later. One night for every hour of time difference. By the time you arrive, your body will have less of a shock.

On the other hand, if you’re only in town for a few days, it might not be worth trying to adjust. Yes, if you live in New York and are in California for a business meeting, that might mean you’re ready for sleep just as locals are heading out for dinner. You’ll also wake up at the crack of dawn. But at least your body won’t have to deal with jet lag when you get home.

2. Book overnight flights.

Sunset as seen from an airplane window

If you’re flying from the U.S. to Europe, most eastbound flights tend to depart in the afternoon and evening, so this shouldn’t be too difficult.

Depending on the length of your flight and how many time zones you’ll cross, you’ll arrive at your destination in the morning or afternoon. This is the best way to adjust your normal schedule, and it’ll be easier for you to reset your clock.

3. Go easy on the caffeine.

Latte is good, but get it decaf. No caffeine if you want to avoid jet jag.

I know, and I’m sorry. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate at the airport and on board, as all of them contain caffeine. Even if you think you’ll sleep just fine, caffeine is a diuretic, so you’ll wake up more often to make trips to the loo. Result: less total sleep time.

Better to go for water and fruit juices. The air inside of an airplane can be very dry, so you will lose water due to dehydration. I realize for many people this will result in frequent bathroom visits, but hey, it’s better to be hydrated!

ⓘ PRO TIP: Drink at least 8 ounces of water for every hour you’re in the air—even if you don’t feel thirsty. Airplane air is super dehydrating.

4. Skip the alcohol.

Couple toasting with champagne. Avoiding alcohol is one of the best tips to avoid jet lag

Avoid the airport bar. Alcohol is dehydrating, and that will worsen symptoms of jet lag.

A cocktail may relax you, but when you’re at such a high altitude, the lower cabin pressure will affect your body in unusual ways. That one drink in the air is the same as two or three on the ground. You can blame that on cabin pressure. A drunken stupor is not the same thing as sleep, and besides, who wants to risk a hangover on arrival?

ⓘ PRO TIP: If you’re a fan of Bloody Marys, ask for a can of spicy tomato juice instead. It’s available at no charge.

5. Change your mind.

We’re big believers in mind over matter. The most helpful trick is mental: As soon as you board, adjust your watch to the time at your destination. Use the flight to get your body on that schedule. For example, if you’re flying from New York to London at 9:20 pm, move your watch to London time and tell yourself, “It is 2:20 a.m. in London.” That’s quite a late bedtime, so try to fall asleep as soon as possible.

Time your next meal for when it’s lunch or dinner time at the destination. If it’s a short flight or you’re traveling westbound very early in the day, consider fasting until you’ve landed. You’re not missing much if you skip the airplane food.

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6. Try to sleep on the plane.

Woman sleeping in front of an airplane window

Even with sitting on a plane for hours, travel is exhausting. Time change creates a lot of stress on the body, so the more rest your body gets en route, the easier it will be to deal with jet lag after you land.

If you’re taking a very long flight—U.S. to Asia, for example—use your frequent flyer miles for a business or first-class upgrade. You’ll have more room to stretch out, and those seats recline further back. It’s a lot easier to sleep when your seat reclines all the way back.

If you can’t avoid flying coach, opt for a window seat. On many planes, you can raise the window armrest for more comfort. (The release lever is underneath, near the hinge.) You can use your coat, blanket, or pillows for padding to prop yourself up against the wall.

ⓘ PRO TIP: When you arrive at the check-in counter, ask if any upgrades are available. Many airlines offer last-minute upgrades at significant discounts. We’ve paid as little as $125 each to switch our economy tickets to first class!

7. Consider medication

While there’s no jet lag remedy that you can take after you land, a few medications can help you minimize jet lag if you take them while traveling.

No-Jet-Lag

Homeopathic No Jet Lag is our favorite way to prevent jet lag. After the fact

What if we told you that there is a homeopathic medication that helps the body adjust its daily circadian rhythm? Many flight attendants swear by No-Jet-Lag, and so do we. We take it every time we travel and believe me, it helps … but only if you take it as directed, haha. We forgot about it on one flight and dealt with flu-like symptoms for a week. Not doing that again.

I’ll admit that the glowing reviews made me skeptical, and I was more inclined to believe the people who said it didn’t work. Still, you’ll try anything when you’re facing a 32-hour flight to the other side of the planet—as we did when we flew to Bali.

We took it as directed and were shocked at how much easier it was to adjust to the 12-hour time difference. Friends who hadn’t taken it were jealous. Their bodies were still adjusting to the time change a week later. BUY IT HERE

Melatonin

Melatonin is a natural substance that comes in pill form. It’s available over the counter and on Amazon.

The body uses this hormone to regulate sleep and wakefulness. Some studies suggest that it helps to take 3 milligrams of fast-release melatonin at bedtime for several days after arrival.

Prescription sleeping pills

We don’t recommend taking pharmaceuticals, but some people find sleeping pills helpful. If that’s your thing, talk to your doctor.

Just make sure that you try them ahead of time to see how they affect you. You don’t want to be groggy when you land!

ALSO READ:
10 Best Ways to Stay Healthy on a Plane

8. Break up your trip

Who says that you have to fly directly to your final destination? If you’re traveling across multiple time zones, a long layover or two can help to break up your trip.

When we moved to Panama from Bali, we scheduled stopovers in both Singapore and London. The difference in airfare was minimal, and it felt like two mini-vacations.

Plus, we avoided the risk of DVT.

ALSO READ:
7 Airports That Offer Free Layover Tours

What’s the difference between a layover and a stopover?

Layovers and stopovers are not the same thing. The main difference between a stopover and layover is the time spent in transit. Connections shorter than 24 hours are called layovers. Stopovers are essentially longer layovers—24 hours in length or longer.

If you plan a layover right, you can leave the airport to explore the city or elevate your legs with a long sleep in a hotel bed. Several airlines offer free stopovers, and some include free hotel stays as well.

Stopovers, on the other hand, offer unlimited flexibility. You’ll have time to take a multi-day tour if you wish.

ⓘ PRO TIP: Our website offers a lot of one-day itineraries that are perfect for both stopovers and long layovers. If we don’t have what you need, let us know and we’ll try to help you out.

9. Get sunlight and exercise.

Sunshine and outdoor activities help to reduce jet lag

Jet lag hates fresh air, activity and bright light. Exercise and exposure to bright light helps the brain wake up and stay awake.

Reduce jet lag en route to your destination

The lighting systems on newer planes can help lessen jet lag by transitioning the cabin lighting based on outside light, and gradually awaken you on red-eye flights.

Are you changing planes?

  • Walk around the airport during your layover.
  • Consider short but intense travel workouts while on land.
  • If it’s daytime, try to get outside in the sunlight or stay near a window.
  • Ask if there are any outdoor facilities; some airports have gardens, and a few even have swimming pools!

Tip: If you have the time, some airports offer free tours during your layover. That’s much better than wasting time waiting for a plane! Get the list of airports offering layover tours here.

Ways to minimize jet lag symptoms after you land

Don’t go to your room when you get to your hotel. Rather, go out and explore your new surroundings until it gets dark.

Should you get a headache as you adjust to the new time, don’t lay down to get rid of it. Take a painkiller or suck it up. If you lay down, you’ll fall asleep early and wake up in the middle of the night.

Conversely, if you wake up in the middle of the night, keep it as dark as possible and don’t look at the clock. Close your eyes and try prayer or meditation.

Tip: While aboard, try to open the window shade a bit if you can, to get more light. Though I should warn you that the challenge is getting away with it. Some flight attendants get really irate because they want to keep the lights dimmed. They want passengers to sleep. Sleeping passengers reduce their workload.

10. Get grounded – try Earthing after you land

Remember when your science teacher taught you that all matter is actually just energy? That’s true, and that even includes this planet!

The earth holds tons of beneficial negative electrons. Many believe that direct contact with the Earth’s surface will help our bodies receive energy that makes us feel better fast.

Yes, it sounds totally out-there, but the scientific community agrees that earthing—AKA grounding—has a bunch of legit health benefits. For instance, various studies have proven that the practice helps improve sleep, normalizes stress hormones, improves immune response, and more. (All are super helpful when you’re clocking tons of air miles—or even if you’re just living in the modern world.)

wellandgood.com

All you need to do is find some grass or sand, then take your shoes off and put your bare feet on the earth for a while.

Can any technology prevent jet lag?

Here is a list of gear that other people have found helpful. If you know of any others we can add, please share in the comments.

  • eye mask
  • noise machine
  • earplugs
  • noise-canceling headphones
  • neck pillow
  • AYO light therapy glasses – This compact light therapy solution allows you to adapt to a new time zone 2 to 3 times faster. Based on your flight itinerary and user profile, the goAYO app uses proprietary algorithms to calculate the best time for you to use AYO as well as to avoid light, making international travel less stressful and more productive. Find it on Amazon.

How long does it take to recover from jet lag?

There is no single best way to recover from jet lag, but here’s what we’ve learned:

  • Traveling east: The general rule of thumb is that you should allow one full day to recover for every time zone (hour gained) you traveled east.
  • Traveling west: According to one study, recovery from jet lag will take a number of days equal to half the time zones crossed. For those flying halfway around the world (New York to Singapore, for instance), it will take around 6 days to completely beat jet lag.

After a long-haul flight, you’ll sleep better on a comfortable mattress. So book a decent hotel, at least for the first night or two.

Bodies are different and your mileage may vary, but we hope this advice will help. If you have any other jet lag avoidance tips, please share them in the comments.

ⓘ PRO TIP: Sign up for our newsletter and get a checklist of over 30 ways to stay healthy on a plane.

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ALSO READ:
10 Best Ways to Stay Healthy on a Plane

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Written by Linda

Linda is multilingual and has been to over 50 countries. Her insatiable love of travel, cuisine, and foreign languages inspired her to create As We Saw It, where she documents her trips, shares practical itineraries, and offers insider tips. She’s passionate about helping fellow travelers save time, money, and hassle, and loves to discover new places to explore.

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