- By Donald Saunders
(c) Donald Saunders All Rights Reserved
http://help-me-to-sleep.com/jet-lag/
Don't let jet lag spoil that much needed holiday
trip to
paradise or stop you from closing that career enhancing deal
you've been working on for months.
Arriving full of excitement and anticipation is great, but
finding that you can't sleep at night, you're tired during
the day and you've got an upset stomach and a headache can
do a lot more than just take the edge off your trip.
If you're seeking ways of preventing jet lag, or looking for
the perfect jet lag remedy, then here are seven tips to
start you on your search.
Tip 1. Clear the decks before your departure.
A much overlooked aspect of jet lag is the part played by
stress. Running around trying to do a 1001 last minute jobs
in the week before you fly. Worrying about whether the
house will be safe. Sitting up until midnight the night
before your flight paying the household bills. Sound
familiar?
Plan well in advance and make sure that you've taken care of
everything at least three or four days before you go. Then
take it easy, get lots of rest and set aside time
specifically for relaxation.
Tip 2. Start adjusting your bedtime before you go.
In the two weeks before your trip start to gradually adjust
your bedtime. If you're flying east, bring your bedtime
forward by ten or fifteen minutes each night so that, by the
time you leave, you're going to bed about two hours earlier
than normal. This will `narrow the gap' between the time at
which your body wants to go to bed and the time that the
clock says you should go to bed at your destination.
Similarly, if you're traveling west, put your bedtime back
by ten or fifteen minutes each day.
Tip 3. Reduce you caffeine intake.
Coffee, as well as other caffeinated drinks, both speeds up
and slows down your internal body clock, depending upon the
time of day that you consume it. When you're settled into a
regular pattern of sleep this doesn't necessarily present
too much of a problem, as the effects can tend to `balance
out'. However, when your body clock finds itself at odds
with local time the effects of caffeine can be quite marked
and add considerably to the problems of jet lag.
Tip 4. Avoid Pills.
With the exception of any prescribed medication that you
normally take, you should avoid sleeping pills, so-called
`jet lag' pills and over the counter medication for jet lag.
Not only do these have little or no beneficial effect, many
of them can actually add to your problems.
In particular, avoid the common temptation to take sleeping
pills during your flight. They may well help you to get to
sleep on the aircraft, but they will add to your problems
when you arrive at your destination.
Tip 5. Dress comfortably for your flight.
Choose comfortable and loose fitting clothes to travel in
and tuck a pair of slippers into your carry-on luggage to
wear on board the aircraft. It's nice to be able to get
dressed up and go out once you reach your destination but
nobody is going to expect you to get dressed up to the nines
while you're traveling.
Tip 6. Get out in the sunshine.
Once you reach your destination get out into daylight as
much as possible during the first few days of your trip.
Daylight sends powerful signals to your body clock and
you'll find that it adjusts far more quickly if it is
exposed to the normal cycle of daylight and darkness at your
destination. So take advantage of this and don't hide
yourself away indoors.
Tip 7. Take something special with you.
It can often be difficult settling in strange surroundings
and, in particular, relaxing sufficiently to fall asleep.
So, take one or two items of special significance with you,
perhaps a family photograph or a favorite bedside ornament,
to help give a little bit of the feel of home.
