Evolve > Sleep > Jet Lag Treatment: 4 Ways To Beat Jet Lag
Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder. It occurs when the body’s internal clock is out of sync with cues from a new time zone. When you travel internationally, your time zone changes. As a result, you experience disturbed sleep or sleepless nights! This is called jet lag syndrome. You may also experience low energy levels or lethargy when facing jet lag. Moreover, jet lag syndrome can also occur without change of timezone. It’s possible that if you change your activity and sleep schedule, your sleep-wake cycle is compromised. It’s important to know ways to beat it and jet lag treatment is very important!
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How to identify it?
You are likely to be suffering from jet lag if you’re travelling internationally. Once in the new time zone or country, you may find yourself unable to sleep on the first few nights or feeling very tired. If so, it probably is jet lag and you need to find ways to beat it. Jet lag treatment and prevention are extremely important!
Jet lag treatment and prevention
- Good sleep habits
- Exercise & light stretching
- Eat the right food
- Stay hydrated
Plan your sleep timings. A simple jet lag treatment or prevention measure is to follow good sleep habits. This applies more when you’re travelling. Look at your flight timings, time difference and when you’ll be able to sleep once you reach your destination. Basis that, try and get just enough sleep on the flight. If you land in the morning, you’ll be well rested and ready to enjoy. If you land closer to the night, you will be able to fall asleep that night and counter jet lag.
Exercise and light stretching. Plane travel is difficult, more so when it’s international. The duration is long, the wait is plenty and eventually the thrill and adrenaline wears off. Your journey can get tiring and your energy levels are low by the time you reach. Moreover, jet lag can make it worse. Hence, it’s important to do some light stretching when you’re on the plane and travelling or once you reach. Light exercise first thing in the morning could also help your body loosen up and feel better. Plus, exercise directly helps you get better sleep, so it’s a win-win.
Eat the right food. Eat healthy and nutritious food when you’re travelling. Junk food on the plane will make it worse for your system to fall asleep. A simple jet lag treatment measure is to snack on nuts instead of chips, drink milk rather than coffee and eat light food so your body isn’t too active and can sleep easily. Melatonin rich food can cure jet lag as well. So improve your food habits once you reach and while you’re on the plane. In case you’re experiencing jet lag without travelling, eating good food is even more important.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water during the flight, and avoid alcohol and caffeine, to minimize dehydration. It’s a sure fire way of treating jet lag and preventing it as well. It keeps you energised, awake and reduces the risk of dehydration. As a result, your appetite, energy levels and mood will be good.
There are simple ways to manage and treat jet lag syndrome and find simple ways to overcome the problem. In case you suffer from it despite not travelling, it’s key you improve your sleep habits, follow a routine and improve your sleep cycle!
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