Chris AshtonThere are two types of people in this world: those two suffer from jet lag, and those who don’t. There are few things more annoying than arriving to a new destination only to feel the overwhelming desire to crawl into a bed for 24 hours – but there is a way around it.
Pan Pacific Hotels Group has put together a handy list of tips and tricks to help you avoid the dreaded jet lag, arriving energetic and ready to explore from the moment you land.
#1 – Nighty night
Think about the time of your destination and try slowly adjusting your sleep patterns to better suit it. Going east? Go to bed a little earlier. Going west? Go to bed a little later.
#2 – Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Dehydration can amplify feelings of jet lag, so drink plenty of water and try to avoid caffeine and alcohol during the flight (though sometimes that’s easier said than done). Granted, it will result in you needing extra visits to the restroom, but you’ll be thanking yourself later.
#3 – Stay active
If you’re the type of person who can sleep on a plane, think about the time in your chosen destination and try to line up your sleeping time with theirs. If you can’t sleep, walk around the cabin and stretch regularly to avoid stiffness or creating an avoidable back ache.
#4 – Hit the ground running
Get yourself outside during the afternoons, get some sunshine and go for a wander and explore new places, being outside will help keep you stay awake and your mind active. The excitement of exploring a new place will also give you a little extra pep to keep going.
#5 – Power nap and no more
If you’ve arrived early in the morning, the best thing you can do is force yourself to power through the day, and then match up your sleeping pattern that evening. If you can’t make it, take a short power nap to make up for lost sleep (15 minutes is the ideal length).
#6 – Go natural
Although sleeping medication will help you to sleep, it unfortunately won’t help your body adjust naturally to new sleep patterns. Try a comfy eye mask and good earplugs instead. Even if you get just two or three hours sleep, it’s better than having none at all.
Do you have any tips for beating jet lag? Let us know.
Hero image by Hernan Sanchez
