Posts Tagged ‘get over jet lag’

I had originally planned to stay in Miyakojima for at least a year before traveling again. However, I had the chance to visit my family and friends for Christmas and decided to jump on it. I have now made this international flight from Tokyo to California several times. The first couple were absolutely painful. For the first week I would be dog tired and be sleeping at all the wrong times of the day. Flying from the US to Asia isn’t too bad. You have a really long day and get a great nights rest. The other way around however is much more difficult. You fly through the night. And if you don’t sleep, then you arrive in the morning having to face a full day. Here are the techniques I use to get over jet lag quickly.

Sleep on the plane- With uncomfortable seats, crying kids, and constant interruptions from flight attendants, this can be quite difficult. However, sleeping on the plane will allow you to arrive in the morning refreshed and ready to go. I have found that the first day is one of the most important and if you can time it right you can adapt quickly. If you are unable to sleep you can try taking your favorite sedatives.

Fight the urge to sleep the first day- If you are arriving in the morning and didn’t sleep on the plane you will most likely be absolutely exhausted. Fighting the urge to sleep the first day will help you sleep better through he first night and wake up more on schedule the next day.

Use daylight- Try to get outside in the light as much as possible during the day. This will help your body reset it’s schedule and adapt easier. You body is most likely used to sleeping during the dark and being awake during the light hours. It will reset to match the new ones.

Do physical activities- This may not always be the easiest thing to do when you visit a new area, but exercising your muscles and tiring out your body will help you sleep better at night.

Stay hydrated and well fed- With all the regulations limiting what you can take on board it has gotten harder to keep liquids close in reach. Try to drink as much as possible while on the plane and also once you get off. Also keep snacks handy.

Don’t worry- The first time I traveled back to the US and woke up way to early and was unable to get good sleep it freaked me out. It will eventually go away so don’t worry about it too much. I am not much of a morning person, so it’s a chance for me to watch the sun come up, read a book in absolute quite, or have time to exercise.