Traveling to an exotic destination can be thrilling. However, there is one aspect of international travel you may be dreading: jet lag. Jet lag after a long vacation can make you feel like you didn’t even relax on what was supposed to be a relaxing vacation. Don’t worry; there are ways to overcome the effects of jet lag. Take a look:
Prepare before your trip
While you may be drinking a lot on your vacation and are having the time of your life on the beach somewhere on the other side of the world, use the last day before your flight for some pre-flight preparation. Do something relaxing, drink water with electrolytes, and avoid alcohol on the last day of your vacation.
Additionally, skip the in-flight alcoholic beverages. If you are flying at night, consider avoiding any naps on the day of your flight, so you can easily drift off to sleep on your flight, if that’s beneficial for the time change of your destination.
Make your bedroom a welcoming place
How is your room setup? Does it inspire relaxation? Do you have the perfect cooling mattress and comfortable sheets and bedding? If not, make sure your room is prepared for optimal comfort before you leave on your trip, so when you get back, you have an inviting space that makes it easy to get to sleep.
A white noise machine can be especially helpful for people who may live in areas with external noise factors. Your sleep is paramount in combating jet lag.
Consider sleep supplements
If you’re having a really tough time getting to sleep after your long vacation and no matter what you do, you simply can’t regulate your schedule, you could depend on some natural sleep supplements like melatonin that make it easier for you to drift off to sleep. Even if it’s just a temporary thing to get your sleep routine back on track, it could be beneficial.
Do something outside if you arrive in the daytime
As tempted as you may be to get to sleep after a long trip from across the sea, if it’s daytime when you arrive, don’t go to bed. While a quick nap could be helpful, it’s best to try to adjust to the new time zone by behaving like it’s daytime, because, well, it is.
This will make it easier for your circadian rhythm to adjust and when nighttime falls, you’ll be more apt to fall asleep—especially because you’ll be so exhausted. However, be careful not to do something too active or busy on the day you arrive, as you don’t need to wipe yourself out. Also make sure to wake up on time with an alarm clock, as sleeping in too late can mess up your sleep schedule, as well.
Chill out
If you can avoid stressing out and getting back to your busy routine the first couple of days, do just that. It could help you to schedule your return for a weekend, where you can at least spend a few days taking it easy to recover from jet lag and adjust your body. Rushing into your typical routine can be very difficult if you’re suffering big time from jet lag. After all, you’re supposed to feel rejuvenated after your vacation.