We've all been there: You're fresh off a flight to your summer getaway and psyched to make the most out of your trip — and you're suddenly hit with incapacitating exhaustion. Forget squeezing in some first-day sightseeing, you're lucky if you can get out of the cocoon of your hotel bed.
While we might love traveling, we can all agree that there are some aspects of the actual process of getting from point A point B that are kind of a bummer — namely, jet lag.
Jet lag is what happens when your body's circadian rhythm (or internal clock) gets thrown out of whack thanks to a rapid trip through multiple time zones. This can leave you feeling exhausted when you want to be awake (and vice versa) and it often takes a few days for your body to re-adjust to the new schedule of sunrises and sunsets you find yourself in.
There's not much you can do to totally skip jet lag, but there are some seemingly innocuous parts of your flying ritual that can make it worse. Ahead, we cover a few things you probably didn't know about jet lag.
The direction you're travelling in matters a lot.
Jet lag is worse if you're travelling eastward. That's because when you go that direction, you lose more hours in the day, making your adjustment more difficult than when you travel west and gain more hours in the day (which gives your body more time to get situated).
This is good to keep in mind while you're planning your trip. If you're going east, you should pay even more attention to sleep hygiene.
Illustrated by: Michaela Early
Caffeine can be a life-save r — but only if you use it right.
Caffeine will keep you awake when you need it to, which can be both a blessing and a curse. For example, if you arrive in a whole other time zone (one that's earlier than your usual) and need to stay up to adjust, a cup of coffee can be a great tool.
However, if you're traveling somewhere in a later time zone, having coffee on your flight could prove disastrous.
Illustrated by: Michaela Early
Having that drink won't help.
Many people turn to sleep aids on overnight flights in an effort to stay ahead of jet lag. But alcohol is one that just won't help.
Although alcohol might help you fall asleep faster on the plane, it often hinders the quality of your rest, because it can keep you from slipping into deep sleep. Plus, booze is known to increase urine output, so it's also likely to cause you to wake up to go to the bathroom, disrupting your sleep cycle even more.
Illustrated by: Michaela Early
Dehydration
Now that you know alcohol is out, what can you drink? Maybe it sounds boring, but drinking regular old water just might be the key to making sure you're awake and energised to make your trip as fun as possible.
That's because even slight dehydration has similar symptoms to travel fatigue, including dizziness, irritability, and headaches — being dehydrated on top of having jet lag can make it seem even worse.
If, like me, you are a firm window-seat regular, it might be annoying to have to bother your seatmates to get to the bathroom. But trust me — if you really want to ward off jet lag symptoms, water is a great way to start.
Illustrated by: Michaela Early
Moving Around On The Plane Can Help
Sleeping on a long flight is usually is your best bet, because you'll want to stay awake until it's after dark at your destination. However, when you're not sleeping, don't just sit there, the CDC advises.
Getting up, stretching, and moving around the plane periodically can keep you feeling mentally and physically sharp (and protect you from blood clots) because it gets your blood pumping.
This will not only make you feel better in general; it will also help you stay alert when you arrive. Plus, working your muscles a bit will lead to better sleep later on.
Illustrated by: Michaela Early
Natural Light Can Help Combat Jet Lag
According to a study from the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Journal, the most ideal way to combat jet lag (besides straight-up avoiding it) is to bathe yourself in as much natural light as possible. Since sunlight pretty much dictates when we wake up for the day and when we go to bed, it also has a big effect on your circadian rhythm by syncing up your body’s internal clock and basically sending signals to your body as to when it needs to be awake and alert.
Jetting across time zones means adjusting to a new daylight schedule, so it makes sense to make use of any natural light you can get. Once you arrive at your destination, try taking a walk outside and soaking up some sun. This won't solve your jet lag, but it can help you get situated in the new time zone.
Illustrated by: Michaela EarlyLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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