The way to know how to prevent jetlag becomes significantly easier when we understand how our bodies work. Desynchronosis is the medical term for jetlag. It means that your circadian rhythm – your body clock – is out of sync. Your body thinks it’s still in one time zone, but it’s physically somewhere else. So it gets confused, tired and stupid.
Moving through time zones can play havoc with our bodies, leading to extreme fatigue along with indigestion, bowel problems, loss of appetite, memory and concentration issues. Jetlag simply just affect different people in different ways.
Here are my special tips, for before, during and after the flight.
Prepare for the flight
Prepare for a long-haul flight means feeling fresh already before stepping on a business trip, rather than fatigued. If you’re someone with a rigid schedule at home, try to relax that schedule during the days before your flight. A great sleep before you fly make it just easier to adjust to a new time zones, and will leave you better equipped to cope with jetlag. You tend to not drink enough when you’re on the plane. If you start fully hydrated, that’s one extra step you can use to combat jetlag.
Pick the right plane and seat
The A350s and A380s are two of the best planes to get on a long-haul flight. Special Hi-tech humidification systems help the air retain moisture and LED lighting systems capable of creating 16.7 million shades of colour simulate natural phases of the day, helping stave off jetlag. Another detail is the amazing air purification system which renews the air every two minutes in the plane.
Try to get a exit row in economy where you have enough leg space and avoid in any cabin class the front rows they the often very busy with people lining up for the rest rooms. For any more information get the app from SeatGuru App. It let you avoid seats in galleys, near washrooms and at the back of a plane, which are bumpier.
Avoid coffee, alcohol and sleeping pills
Try to cut out any alcoholic beverages when stepping on the flight because the effects of alcohol at altitude will increase tiredness and cause dehydration. Instead drink plenty of still water and herbal tea. Avoid any sort of caffeine beverages such as coffee, coca-cola and energy drinks. These artificial stimulants will affect your ability to sleep and increase jetlag recovery time.
Taking sleeping pills on a long-haul flights is not a good idea. They’re not worth it at all. They’ll do nothing to assist your recovery from jetlag and will just leave you feeling tired and weak when you land.
Eat the right meal
I stick on all long- haul flights to the Asian-vegetarian meal, which can be preordered with most airlines. This is always a very easy and light meal and the good thing you get served first on most airlines- because the crew delivers the special ordered meals first.
Keep moving and do some exercise
Move around regularly and do some exercises to keep the blood flowing. I will soon indroduce a short clip from a qualified fitness coach what movements are helpful to improve the blood circulation on flights. Besides this, almost all airline magazines will have a section dedicated to simple exercises for long haul flights.
Do not watch movies or check mails
Restricting blue light Exposure before going to sleep on the plane is a wise recommendation. In a modern world, we are exposed to quite a lot of artificial “blue” a daylight signaler to our minds. Be it LEDs, fluorescent lighting, or the backlit screens of our portable devices, it’s easier for our bodies to get confused.
If you need to check mails or must work for 1 hour at least get using F.lux on your laptop.
F.lux I promise you will change your live. I’ve never found one program that has this big an impact on my sleep cycle and comfort as I work in the evenings. Try and see it will make a huge difference to the way that you can work productively in the evening without feeling terrible the next day.
Try to arrive at day time
If possible, book a flight which arrives in daylight. This will make it easier to stay awake – you’ll be much more tempted to get out and explore if the sun’s shining and you’ve got a full day ahead of you.
Set your watch on arrival time
This starts not when you land, but before you take off, by setting your watch to your destination time zone as you settle in for the journey.
