How To Beat Jet Lag: 5 Tips From Flight Attendants

Have you ever found yourself googling for ‘How To Beat Jet Lag‘ at 3am? Perhaps this post will provide some answers.There’s no way to turn this around: jet lag is tough, and all pilots and flight attendants have been through it. From insomnia, exhaustion, dizziness and so many other more symptoms, jet lag can really get a grasp on your wellbeing and comfort.

Going through so many time zones on such short notice can be exhausting and make you dread long distance travelling, but there’s no need to get to this point because there are many valuable tricks on how to make sure you keep this jet lag far, far away from you.

If you’ve never understood what options are available to you, to keep yourself feeling good while passing through different time zones, there’s surely someone out there who has given it a lot of thought and trial: experienced aircrew members!!

Here is the most precious advice that the world’s most experienced jet lag fighters could give you!

How To Beat Jet Lag

1. Check which way around the world you’ll be flying

The first thing in efficiently addressing jet lag is knowing if you’re flying West or East.  Studies have shown that it’s easier to adjust to flying west rather than east, so if East is your direction, make an effort to wake up as early as possible in the days before your flight and try to stay away from light as much as you can. When you arrive, try to let as much light in – this will make your internal clock adjust faster. If instead you are heading west, you should do the opposite and try to stay up as late as possible for the days before your flight and soak as much light as you can.

2. Exercise and drink a lot of water

Another thing all experienced aircrew members advise you to do is to make sure you exercise and stay hydrated. Getting those endorphins flowing through your bloodstream is a good way to keep your body not only in a state of flow but also to enable it to restore its natural balance. So the next time you’re getting ready for a long distance flight, stick to a workout routine in the days before your trip and also, maintain that routine for a at least a short while after you land. Keeping your body active and hydrated are the basics for it to be able to adjust to such intense changes.

3. Skip the caffeine

This is a tough one for many. You might even ask, wait, doesn’t caffeine help me stay awake when I need to? It does, but when your body is under such stressful changes, caffeine only brings more turmoil to your system. If there’s anything you should give more consideration to instead of simply resorting to caffeine and ending up with headaches and even stronger discomfort, it’s making friends with supplements such as synthetic melatonin.  This hormone can really do wonders for resetting your body’s natural sleep cycle and to help you adapt to the time zone.

4. Don’t forget your eye mask

Aircrew members love eye masks, and the reason is a very simple one: when your body is confused about whether it’s time to sleep or not, you can simply push the switch button whenever you want. Another valuable insight? Give in to sleep whenever you body craves for it, regardless of whether it sounds like a reasonable idea or not. Remember, your body is going through some quite rough patches with all these changes, so it’s only fair you give it time to process everything and sleep through the exhaustion. After all, your body does know best.

5. Stick to your meal times

This one applies especially for short trips, as it assures that you won’t have to put your body through too many changes in such short notice. If everything else changes around you and your inner clock is turned upside down, you can give your body some comfort by allowing it to stick to its normal meal times, even if it means you’ll have to have lunch at midnight. This way, you won’t have to readjust to your body’s meal routine once you come back home.

When you’re just starting out in the aviation industry, jet lag can seem like a colossal challenge, but with the right tips you can learn how to beat it and stay fresh regardless of the time zones.

Summary

There are many ways to prevent jet lag, but some methods are more effective than others. One of the most effective ways to avoid jet lag is to adjust your body clock before you travel. This can be done by gradually changing your sleep schedule in the days leading up to your trip. It’s also important to get a good night’s sleep before you fly.

When you’re on the plane, try to get as much sleep as possible. You may want to avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can disrupt sleep. It’s also a good idea to drink plenty of water and move around occasionally to keep yourself awake. When you reach your destination, try to expose yourself to natural light as soon as possible. This will help reset your internal clock. Finally, try to go to bed and wake up at the same time as you would at home.