6 Natural Ways To Avoid Jet lag During Your Travels

Jet lag might be described as an all too familiar nuisance. It keeps you up at night. It makes you drowsy during the day when you should be out and about in Rome, basking in the sun and posing next to naked statues to post on Instagram later. 

After an extended flight, you’ll feel sluggish, heavy and disoriented for the first few days or so once you arrive at your holiday destination. This is no way to start off the travel plans you've been counting down to for months now. While it can’t be avoided all together, it can be eased. You won’t be battling jet lag for the most part of your much earned getaway anymore, no, it’ll be a pesky, minute irritation that will be gone ASAP if these tips below are applied. 

1. RESEARCH THE TIME AT YOUR FINAL DESTINATION

This is ultimately the first thing you’ll want to do during the days before you take off. It lets you gauge what time it is over there, which will allow you to start practicing different bedtimes or mealtimes before you even arrive.

2. SLEEP ACCORDINGLY ON THE PLANE

No, don’t just sleep for the entire plane trip, but don’t stay up watching the latest releases either. Now that you’ve researched the time over in your holiday destination, it’ll be wise to either sleep when they’ll be sleeping and stay awake when your destination would be awake.

3. NAPPING IS ALSO A NO-NO

Taking a quick nap counts as sleeping in a way, so try and avoid napping all together during the times when the population of your final pit-stop would be awake.  Read, entertain yourself with Sudoku or annoy the stranger you're sitting next to by taking selfies, but don’t fall for the innocent nap.

4. KEEP YOUR EXCITED JUICES FLOWING

Create a list of all of the things you want to do as soon as you arrive at your destination: sightseeing, getting a bite of the local cuisine, or enjoying the nightlife. Whatever it is, have it handy when you land and check into your hotel. You’re going to need some motivation to get yourself out of the room, excited to explore right away. This is a great trick to keep yourself from curling into a fetal position as soon as you walk into your hotel room. Avoiding this is vital as you might crash and burn for a long period of time, which will put your sleeping patterns out of whack for days to come.

5. SLEEP TIGHT DON'T LET THE JET-LAG BEDBUGS BITE

You’ve arrived, sleepy and disoriented. But you’ve forced yourself to have a shower and get out during what time you have left to romp through the city/town, armed with your list of exciting things to do. By now you deserve a huge high-five, seriously. Evening is creeping in and it’s time to call it a night, but your brain and body-clock is still buzzing. Try to avoid anything that may disturb your sleep like your phone, other tech gadgets, or coffee. Instead have a warm bath (if applicable), maybe read your way to some zzzzz's and try to have a good nights rest for the next day. 

6. RISE AND SHINE... EARLY-ISH

If you’re on holiday for a mere week, then it’d be a shame to waste most of it by sleeping late into the afternoon and missing out on all of the opportunities to explore. Wake up early enough so that you have plenty of time to do a handful of activities that will tire yourself out. By the end of the day, you’ll be eager to sleep and therefore: jet lag is owned. 

WHAT ARE SOME OTHER TRICKS YOU HAVE UP YOUR SLEEVES?