Hey my dears and happy Monday! I hope each of you had an amazing weekend. I spent mine having some quality time with Ciarán after being away in Oregon, Portland last week with work. It was so lovely to just chill out and relax with him. We ate all around us and ended the weekend with a trip to the cinema to see The Lion King…Yes, I cried, I am a total softie.
It would have been the absolute perfect weekend only for my jet lag. For some reason it has hit me hard on this occasion. I am currently sitting down at my laptop and it is 4am Monday morning and I am wide awake, but I know the crash is imminent. I have been frantically searching for jet lag remedies to help me, but I think this time around, I must just ride the wave, suck it up and get my body back into my Irish routine today. No napping during the day and getting into bed early every night for the rest of the week.
This is the first time that I have experienced jet lag as bad as this. It is something I really don’t want to have to experience again any time soon. I have a few more oversea trips in 2019 and can’t afford to be down and out like this again, so I have compiled a list of helpful tips to prevent jetlag in the future and thought it is something that ye might find useful also.
HELPFUL TIPS TO AVOID JETLAG IN THE FUTURE
In advance of your trip, gradually start adjusting your sleep to match your destinations time zone particularly if travelling East as it can lead to being awake until early in the morning.
Try taking melatonin in advance of your trip. Melatonin is called the “sleep” hormone as it regulates the bodies circadian rhythm (sleep cycle).
Once you have boarded your flight and fully settled, adjust your clocks immediately to your new time zone
Only sleep on the plane if it matches the normal sleeping hours at your destination. If this is not an option, limit your sleep to a maximum of two hours. Set an alarm and keep yourself entertained for the remaining of the flight.
Keep Hydrated. This doesn’t mean drinking loads of the free alcohol. Keep the water flowing instead as dehydration makes it more difficult for your body to adjust to the new time zone. Alcohol will only cause further dehydration.
Eat at the time you are meant to eat at your destination. This might mean skipping the airplane dinner as this isn’t always taken into consideration. Instead pack snacks and eat them at planed intervals instead
Once you arrive at your destination, when feeling tired avoid reaching for caffeine. Instead try exercising outdoors in the daylight instead. The daylight can help naturally reset your sleep cycle.
I know I will be trying these tips for sure myself in advance of, and during my next overseas trip. Hopefully they will work. If you have any other further tips you think are worth sharing, please let me know and I will only be happy to add to the list. Everything helps when it comes to getting some shut eye.
Have a great week everyone!
Sarah