How to Get Over Jet Lag (Actually)
Q: Do you still get jet lagged after all of your travels?
A: ALL THE TIME.
The world is divided into two types of people — those who can rally after a long-haul international flight and those who just CAN’T. Unfortunately, I’m one of the latter! No matter how many far flung trips I take, jet lag is something I deal with… poorly. And I’m not one of those people who only gets jet lag on my route home. It’s killed the early days of a couple of trips to Asia for me. That being said, I won’t let it stop me from traveling, and you shouldn’t either! Below are my top jet lag survival tricks, because staying up until local nighttime does NOT work for me!
Check out my top tips for ACTUALLY getting over jet lag!
Book a flight that arrives later in the day.
If you’re taking a long-haul 15+ hour flight, your body is likely going to be VERY tired when you land… regardless of timezone. It’s pretty rare that I fly halfway across the world and arrive full of energy. Those heavy bags and never-ending airport hallways take a toll! Even if I arrive in the morning, the first thing I want to do after getting off a crowded plane is to find some personal space. Unless you scored a sleeping arrangement with an early check-in, you’re kind of SOL. I’ve learned over the years that it’s best to book a flight with an arrival time close to check-in time, and lower your expectations for first day shenanigans.
Pre-adjust your sleep schedule.
At least a few days before departure, I like to start slowly adjusting my sleep schedule to better align with my destination’s timezone. While I won’t completely put myself on graveyard shifts in advance of a solo trip to Asia, I find that going to sleep a couple of hours earlier/later each day for the few days leading up to my flight helps my body acclimate more quickly!
Don’t be afraid to *safely* medicate.
Whether for an in-flight snooze or jet lag insomnia, my carry-on ALWAYS includes some sort of sleep aid. For me, over-the-counter Advil PM typically does the trick, but Melatonin is another more natural option if that works for your body. If your doctor thinks it’s appropriate to prescribe, reach for something stronger. While you may not always need it, keep your sleep aids handy in your carry-on bag — your future (sleepless) self will thank you!! After popping your sleep aid of choice, don’t forget to close the airplane shade and cover those eyes with a quality sleep mask too!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
However much water you usually drink… double it. I find that this REALLY helps! Unless you boarded the plane with three liters of water, you’re likely dehydrated from sitting on a dry and stale airplane for 8+ hours. Water just makes everything in the body run BETTER, amiright? Jet lag included!
Keep your calendar open.
Keep the first day of your travel itinerary wide open and just give into the jet lag. If your body is begging for sleep, maybe you should sleep! Break out your sleeping mask, ear plugs, and draw those blackout blinds. Diving into a lush hotel bed after a long flight is the BEST. Rallying through the jet lag will only damper your early activities anyways. You might as well wait until you’re fully rested and able to actually appreciate/enjoy your trip! I’ve also learned the hard way that you MUST leave your calendar open the day after returning from a long trip too! Gone are the days of flying home from Thailand on a Sunday and going into work on Monday…
Above all else, remember to thank your lucky stars — jet lag means you must be traveling somewhere far away and fantastic!!
What has helped you cope with jet lag? Subscribe to The Soloist for more travel planning tips and tricks!
