Tips for beating jet lag?
Tips for beating jet lag?
Author
Discussion

KenBlocksPants

Original Poster:

7,016 posts

201 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Its 4pm yet my body is acting like its 2am.

Just got back from the states (west coast) and im suffering with the dreaded jet lag. My feeble attempts at manning up and getting through it are failing as I work from home alone... so my bed is very close and I have no-one to keep me in check..

any tips / advice?


Don1

16,216 posts

225 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
A little late for yo, but I set my watch to the destination time when I get on the plane - and live my normal life to that.

ewenm

28,506 posts

262 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Too late now IME. I minimise it by switching to the destination timezone as early as possible (pre-flight if poss). Right now, coffee/pro-plus thumbup

Stu R

21,410 posts

232 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Energy drinks and don't go to bed works for me smile

KenBlocksPants

Original Poster:

7,016 posts

201 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Thanks guys, a quick google revealed plenty that I could have done pre flight and during!

Damn my lack of preparedness


mr_tony

6,339 posts

286 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Prep is everything. I do 3 or so long haul flights a month and the best ways I've found are...

1. If flying west (e.g. USA) try and fly around midday. Stay awake extra hours, then go to bed slightly early - ideally after a beer or two. Guarantees you sleep through. Don't forget to book a wake up call though.

2. If flying east (e.g. middle east/singapore etc), get to sleep ASAP. Try and leave UK evening time.

Also I tend to find these general tips help.

1. Stay hydrated. Don't drink (much) booze.
2. Don't double up on meals (i.e. eat in lounge then eat in plane)
3. Don't feel you need to eat at all on a flight - just because they have food you don't need to eat it! e.g. if flying overnight to Singapore, eat an evening meal and get a proper nights sleep. I find an extra hours sleep is better than a rubbish airline breakfast. Just get a cuppa when you wake up instead and eat once off the plane - preferably somewhere nice.

4. Caffeine is great. Starbucks is everywhere, so is Costa..




Justayellowbadge

37,057 posts

259 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Take your shoes and socks off and curl your toes in the carpet.

I am not responsible for the consequences.

Stu R

21,410 posts

232 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Justayellowbadge said:
Take your shoes and socks off and curl your toes in the carpet.

I am not responsible for the consequences.
Fists with your toes hehe Just remember to put them back on after having a shower smile

Edited by Stu R on Monday 14th June 16:29

KenBlocksPants

Original Poster:

7,016 posts

201 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Thanks all biggrin

Looks like caffine it is then!

KaraK

13,468 posts

226 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
dibbers006 said:
Justayellowbadge said:
Take your shoes and socks off and curl your toes in the carpet.

I am not responsible for the consequences
Now I have a Machine Gun...

Ho

Ho

Ho
Yippee-ki-yay, mofo!

ShadownINja

78,790 posts

299 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
KenBlocksPants said:
any tips / advice?
Stay up until 11pm any way you can (gym? sports?), then sleep so that you wake up at the same time. If you need more hours asleep then go to bed slightly earlier... just don't go to sleep now!

turbotongue

7,573 posts

197 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
Do an all nighter and drink lots of red bull the next day. Then go to sleep early and set your alarm early. Make sure you wake up and then you should be tired in the evening

Nardies

1,259 posts

236 months

Monday 14th June 2010
quotequote all
I've tried the 'not eating until your back in your destination time zone' trick, it works for me. So, as an example if I'm leaving somewhere in the evening and not landing until 9am GMT I'll have dinner, not eat on the plane, then wait till breakfast at the relevant UK time. Keep hydrated obviously!

KenBlocksPants

Original Poster:

7,016 posts

201 months

Tuesday 15th June 2010
quotequote all
Quick update.

I have a can of relentless in my hands and I think ive beaten the 'bedtime' urge today so far. I had a real wobble about 10am where I almost caved in and went back to bed.

Sleeping straight through the night now though which is good.

Almost there!

(Relentless juiced aint half bad)


GJB

464 posts

275 months

Monday 28th June 2010
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The worst jet lag we've experienced is coming back fom the USA.

Always try to fly overnight coming back to UK as this can ease the pain especially if you can sleep on the plane. Being 6ft 4in tall I will not fly more than a couple of hours unless I can upgrade to upper class or club class for this reason. However when you get home set your alarm to allow you a couple of hours just to take the edge off it and get back into your normal routine asap. If you fail to do this it can take a week or more to get your brain in gear....I know from experience.

The_Doc

5,618 posts

237 months

Thursday 1st July 2010
quotequote all
Melatonin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

Reset your body clock.

Sold as a dietary supplement in USA only. Can't be bought by civvies in UK.

I've never used it as I prefer to stay up the following day until sleep is inevitable, but a mate of mine who visits relatives in the USA says he gets good results with it.

Broomsticklady

1,095 posts

222 months

Thursday 1st July 2010
quotequote all
The_Doc said:
Melatonin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melatonin

Reset your body clock.

Sold as a dietary supplement in USA only. Can't be bought by civvies in UK.

I've never used it as I prefer to stay up the following day until sleep is inevitable, but a mate of mine who visits relatives in the USA says he gets good results with it.
You can get it on amazon and other sites now no problem