Discussion
There is nothing worse, right?
Myself and Miss Trophy (see below naked pictures.... Just kidding) came back from the US-A on Saturday morning. I pulled an all nighter, lasting 33 hours. 6pm came and I was asleep, waking back up at 11pm. Didn't get to sleep until 4am and up at 9.
Sunday night was 4am and up at 7am and last night was 9-11pm then 4-7am.
Best way to fight the jet lag before I punch someone at work?
Myself and Miss Trophy (see below naked pictures.... Just kidding) came back from the US-A on Saturday morning. I pulled an all nighter, lasting 33 hours. 6pm came and I was asleep, waking back up at 11pm. Didn't get to sleep until 4am and up at 9.
Sunday night was 4am and up at 7am and last night was 9-11pm then 4-7am.
Best way to fight the jet lag before I punch someone at work?
No easy way, I've tried sleeping pills and getting ripped to the tits on caffeine (not at the same time) to try to get back into rhythm, but just make me feel worse.
The only thing that works for me is whenever I arrive in the new time zone fighting to stay away until as close to my correct bedtime as possible and accepting the first day is going to be hell.
The only thing that works for me is whenever I arrive in the new time zone fighting to stay away until as close to my correct bedtime as possible and accepting the first day is going to be hell.
You've made it so much worse by staying up 'till 6pm. 
I land from the states and if I haven't slept a lot on the flight, have a few hours in the morning wake up about 11:00 - 12:00 then go to bed at a normal time again that night. Eating and sleeping at normal times is what gets your body into the rhythm again soonest.
I land from the states and if I haven't slept a lot on the flight, have a few hours in the morning wake up about 11:00 - 12:00 then go to bed at a normal time again that night. Eating and sleeping at normal times is what gets your body into the rhythm again soonest.
doogz said:
I was in the US of A recently.
Flight left Orlando at 5pm, got into London at 6am. Never slept at all. Stayed up til we got back to Glasgow and never went to bed til 11 that night to try and beat the jet lag.
Didn't work. Took a week and a half before I could get to sleep at an appropriate time at night, and get up in time for work in the morning. Incredibly annoying
Christ. Left Orlando the same times as you did. BA?Flight left Orlando at 5pm, got into London at 6am. Never slept at all. Stayed up til we got back to Glasgow and never went to bed til 11 that night to try and beat the jet lag.
Didn't work. Took a week and a half before I could get to sleep at an appropriate time at night, and get up in time for work in the morning. Incredibly annoying
I am struggling not going to lie. I thought it would do me the world of going staying up all night. Guess not!
I've done a lot of long haul stuff over the past few years and to be honest, fighting jet lag starts before you get on the plane. The following always worked for me:
- Eat before getting on the plane
- As soon as you get on the plane, set your watch for the local time at your arrival destination and switch your body clock into that time (This is important)
- Do not drink alcohol on the plane. Lots and lots of water and OJ, but not a drop of booze
- I never really eat on the plane and if I do, it tends to be just a light snack and NO alcohol
- Only sleep on the plane at times that are in line with your arrival destination time zone
- When you do land, do your ablutions as soon as possible to feel as fresh as you can
- If flying East, (copious amounts of) alcohol on the evening of your arrival is your friend
- After a really long flight, make sure you have a completely free rest day before working
I often go to the States, usually Boston or NY.
I try and get as late a fight as possible coming back, they all seem to arrive around the 6-8am slot in London. I try and rest (not necessarily sleep) on the flight, don't bother with the movie, or reading, just listen to music and have my eyes closed.
I then get a flight back to Manchester, arriving somewhere just before lunch, and grab a bite to eat as soon as possible back in Manchester, (but not at the airport - far too expensive!)
I then have a short sleep in the afternoon, probably a couple of hours, and then get up and do something, in order to keep active. The last two times, I've gone and done some food shopping, and then had my kids over for the night. I then go to bed about 11 or 11.30, and sleep till about 10 the following morning, and get an early night that night as well (10-11pm) and Iusually feel fine after that.
I try and get as late a fight as possible coming back, they all seem to arrive around the 6-8am slot in London. I try and rest (not necessarily sleep) on the flight, don't bother with the movie, or reading, just listen to music and have my eyes closed.
I then get a flight back to Manchester, arriving somewhere just before lunch, and grab a bite to eat as soon as possible back in Manchester, (but not at the airport - far too expensive!)
I then have a short sleep in the afternoon, probably a couple of hours, and then get up and do something, in order to keep active. The last two times, I've gone and done some food shopping, and then had my kids over for the night. I then go to bed about 11 or 11.30, and sleep till about 10 the following morning, and get an early night that night as well (10-11pm) and Iusually feel fine after that.
I find it far easier to stay up, than to fall asleep. So going out to USA is no prob. When I used to go to HK it was! So unlike everyone else in the plane, that would leave at 11pm, I'd stay up all night, the bar on Virgin Atlantic was always 'manned' often just by me! You arrive at 6pm knackered but get to hotel, sme Chinese tea and hit the sack. Wake up at 7am sorted.
So whilst its a bit late now, my advice is stay up rather than go to bed. You have the up til 4am issue trouble is if you don't a address it it will get later and later!
If you do decide to try to get to sleep earlier rather than miss a cycle, how about hitting the gym for a few hours or even a really long 2 hour swim. Relaxing but tires you out?
I hate jet lag !
So whilst its a bit late now, my advice is stay up rather than go to bed. You have the up til 4am issue trouble is if you don't a address it it will get later and later!
If you do decide to try to get to sleep earlier rather than miss a cycle, how about hitting the gym for a few hours or even a really long 2 hour swim. Relaxing but tires you out?
I hate jet lag !
AndyNetwork said:
I often go to the States, usually Boston or NY.
I try and get as late a fight as possible coming back, they all seem to arrive around the 6-8am slot in London. I try and rest (not necessarily sleep) on the flight, don't bother with the movie, or reading, just listen to music and have my eyes closed.
I then get a flight back to Manchester, arriving somewhere just before lunch, and grab a bite to eat as soon as possible back in Manchester, (but not at the airport - far too expensive!)
I then have a short sleep in the afternoon, probably a couple of hours, and then get up and do something, in order to keep active. The last two times, I've gone and done some food shopping, and then had my kids over for the night. I then go to bed about 11 or 11.30, and sleep till about 10 the following morning, and get an early night that night as well (10-11pm) and Iusually feel fine after that.
This is what works for me - many flights from N America have proven the technique.I try and get as late a fight as possible coming back, they all seem to arrive around the 6-8am slot in London. I try and rest (not necessarily sleep) on the flight, don't bother with the movie, or reading, just listen to music and have my eyes closed.
I then get a flight back to Manchester, arriving somewhere just before lunch, and grab a bite to eat as soon as possible back in Manchester, (but not at the airport - far too expensive!)
I then have a short sleep in the afternoon, probably a couple of hours, and then get up and do something, in order to keep active. The last two times, I've gone and done some food shopping, and then had my kids over for the night. I then go to bed about 11 or 11.30, and sleep till about 10 the following morning, and get an early night that night as well (10-11pm) and Iusually feel fine after that.
Where I really suffered is flying to/from South Africa. I can't sleep on planes - and with SA there is no/little time difference so no opportunity to sleep for over 12 hours after arrival.
Edited by Puggit on Tuesday 18th June 10:16
If going west, stay awake; if going east, sleep.
East to west should be as early a flight as possible and then an early night.
West to east should be as late as possible, sleep and then ease yourself into that time zone.
Get your connecting flights out of the way early - a short flight followed by a long one is much less disruptive than a longer one followed by waiting at the airport and then a short hop home.
Fly business if you can (obvious perhaps) - it's well worth £1k extra for anyone who's reasonably senior and travelling on business to be able to hit the ground running. Of course most of us don't have the price of an old MX5 to drop on a night's sleep - me included when work's not paying.
Once you've landed, I've no idea; by then I've found everything is set in stone.
East to west should be as early a flight as possible and then an early night.
West to east should be as late as possible, sleep and then ease yourself into that time zone.
Get your connecting flights out of the way early - a short flight followed by a long one is much less disruptive than a longer one followed by waiting at the airport and then a short hop home.
Fly business if you can (obvious perhaps) - it's well worth £1k extra for anyone who's reasonably senior and travelling on business to be able to hit the ground running. Of course most of us don't have the price of an old MX5 to drop on a night's sleep - me included when work's not paying.
Once you've landed, I've no idea; by then I've found everything is set in stone.
I have to travel a load at work, I don't think there is a simple solution it depends what suits you. If it's a short trip -4 days I usually try to keep to GB time. In NY i'll be up at 3am doing e-mails etc, breakfast becomes dinner etc, but it is difficult when someone pulls a 4pm eastern time meeting on you.
I once saw some TV programme about hotels and a Arab prince basically does the same except he has all his flunkies waking when he does which made me laugh.
Oh and the ability to be able to sleep anywhere at anytime helps!
I once saw some TV programme about hotels and a Arab prince basically does the same except he has all his flunkies waking when he does which made me laugh.
Oh and the ability to be able to sleep anywhere at anytime helps!
I used to try and fight the plane environment (ie when the stewards turn the lights off) thinking that I knew better but I don't anymore. If they turn the lights off then I go to sleep. If they turn them on I wake up. You're going to get jet lag anyway so don't try and fight it. The harder you fight the less likely you are to fall asleep because of anxiety!
These days I also have moulded earplugs (although foam ones are pretty good too) and a face mask which I use incase the people around me are noisy.
Generally when I get to the destination I will try and immediately live on its timezone but if you have to have an hr or 2 kip in the afternoon to get you through to 11pm that won't ruin you.
It is also a thing you get better at dealing with the more you travel.
These days I also have moulded earplugs (although foam ones are pretty good too) and a face mask which I use incase the people around me are noisy.
Generally when I get to the destination I will try and immediately live on its timezone but if you have to have an hr or 2 kip in the afternoon to get you through to 11pm that won't ruin you.
It is also a thing you get better at dealing with the more you travel.
I've just done a whole bunch of flights and am suffering from jetlag, but the easiest way to deal with it, I've found, is not to travel economy! 
If I'm travelling for work long haul it's business class, but I did have awful jetlag travelling to/from Vancouver over Christmas/New Year.
Seriously though, set your watch to the destination timezone on boarding the plane and sleep as much as possible on the flights to suit the timezone.
Last week I travelled,
Sun: Lux - Frankfurt - Toronto
Tue: Toronto - NY
Wed: NY - Tampa
Fri: Tampa - Chicago
Sun: Chicago - Zurich
Mon: Zurich - Lux
I was very fortunate that Swiss upgraded me from business to first on Sunday night's flight to Zurich. That was THE BEST night's sleep on a plane for me, EVAH!
If I'm travelling for work long haul it's business class, but I did have awful jetlag travelling to/from Vancouver over Christmas/New Year.Seriously though, set your watch to the destination timezone on boarding the plane and sleep as much as possible on the flights to suit the timezone.
Last week I travelled,
Sun: Lux - Frankfurt - Toronto
Tue: Toronto - NY
Wed: NY - Tampa
Fri: Tampa - Chicago
Sun: Chicago - Zurich
Mon: Zurich - Lux
I was very fortunate that Swiss upgraded me from business to first on Sunday night's flight to Zurich. That was THE BEST night's sleep on a plane for me, EVAH!
I have just today taken a 17:45 > 12:15 (LAX to LHR) flight. I never really have that much of an issue with jet lag, so expect the 8hr difference to be fine. I am going to work in the morning.
I always just convert over to the destination time as soon as i can. Sleeping and eating at the correct times is all i need to do.
It would be easier if i wasn't stuck in economy though! But at least i get the 6ft+ legroom of exit row seats now.
I always just convert over to the destination time as soon as i can. Sleeping and eating at the correct times is all i need to do.
It would be easier if i wasn't stuck in economy though! But at least i get the 6ft+ legroom of exit row seats now.
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