Travel Bug
Everything you need to know for all the places you'll go. All about your travels: your hints, tips, stories and experiences!
This week is all about jet lag! Jet lag is probably one of the worst things about traveling internationally. You can minimize the inconvenience, though, if you know the right ways to do so. I found some great tips on how to fight jet lag and enjoy your vacation!
Time Change Tips
One of the hardest things about traveling far from home is adjusting to the time change. If you are traveling far away, it's hard to enjoy your time if you're always tired! Here are some good tips on how to make sure your adjustment is smooth and you have an enjoyable vacation!
Mental Adjustments:
Set your watch to the new time on the airplane before you take off (or some somewhat large amount of time before you get there, whether it be by plane, train, or automobile). Your brain will have a good amount of time to adjust to the time change.
Always comparing the time at your destination and at home will not help. Do not think of time in relevance to your home time, because you are just reminding yourself how offset everything is.
Physical Adjustments:
If you're only going to have to adjust to a time change of 1-2 hours, you can help yourself adjust early simply by adjusting the times when you go to sleep or wake up prior to when you leave.
Re-adjust your mealtime schedule.This helps you avoid nighttime cravings that keep you awake.
Avoid naps if possible. They will only mess up your sleep scedule more.
Eat right, exercise, and relax!
Mental Adjustments:
Set your watch to the new time on the airplane before you take off (or some somewhat large amount of time before you get there, whether it be by plane, train, or automobile). Your brain will have a good amount of time to adjust to the time change.
Always comparing the time at your destination and at home will not help. Do not think of time in relevance to your home time, because you are just reminding yourself how offset everything is.
Physical Adjustments:
If you're only going to have to adjust to a time change of 1-2 hours, you can help yourself adjust early simply by adjusting the times when you go to sleep or wake up prior to when you leave.
Re-adjust your mealtime schedule.This helps you avoid nighttime cravings that keep you awake.
Avoid naps if possible. They will only mess up your sleep scedule more.
Eat right, exercise, and relax!
I found my tips at these sites:
FitSugar
Army Times
Feel free to check them out for more details. I also found a great article online all about combating jet lag here. Remember, you can also find people you know who have traveled internationally and ask them if they have any good tips, too. Hope this helps!
FitSugar
Army Times
Feel free to check them out for more details. I also found a great article online all about combating jet lag here. Remember, you can also find people you know who have traveled internationally and ask them if they have any good tips, too. Hope this helps!
Reader Tips
As far as time changes go, I've found when going West to East it is best to get in a short nap upon arrival. Just an hour or so. Then soldier through til night (however early you are after a long day/night of travel). Going East to West I've found it best to skip the nap and sleep early for a long night of catching up.
Next Time On Travel Bug...
Hey, I would love to see a Travel Bug on Melbourne, Australia, because that's where I'm from! It's also a really great city, with heaps of things to do, whether you like shopping, sports, beaches, cultural type things etc.
Julia's comment: Absolutely! Next week, look forward to a feature on Melbourne, Australia!
Julia's comment: Good advice!