Have you ever felt exhausted when you get off a flight, with a new time zone confusing your mind and body?
Well, in an effort to help travelers avoid jet lag symptoms, one globetrotter shared ten of her expert tips.
Collette Reitz from Chicago recently traveled through five time zones in two weeks.
Between February 23 and March 12, she told Insider that she “flew from Chicago to Los Angeles (two hours time difference), to London (eight hours time difference), back to Chicago (six hours time difference) and then to New Zealand (17 hours time difference).”
Despite her whirlwind travel schedule, Collette – who works as a journalist – managed to avoid jet lag and “really enjoy the places I’ve visited.” Fly down to learn about some of her recovery tricks.
Collette Reitz from Chicago recently traveled through five time zones in two weeks
1. Do your best to sleep on the plane
During her biggest time swings, Collette said she tried to sleep on the plane knowing it was nighttime at her final destinations.
For those traveling in business and first class, sleeping is much easier, but in economy, says the travel professional, it’s essential to try to hold a fully open row of seats to stretch out, or the emergency exit row bookable for more legroom.
On her 16-hour flight from Chicago to New Zealand, she was lucky enough to fly business premier class.
She revealed that meant she had “a surprisingly comfortable murphy bed, and I slept about eight hours, on and off.”
When she landed at 7 a.m., she was “a little groggy,” but after a quick bathroom refresh, she felt ready to seize the day.
2. Don’t sleep when you land – unless it’s night time
Even though you may feel sleepy, Collette says to keep going when you land during the day to increase your chances of getting a good night’s sleep that night.
The frequent flyer suggests booking in an activity, as a way to force yourself to stay awake.
For example, when she was in London, she booked a Harry Potter walking tour.
She explained that this was “something to look forward to,” but also “a great way to see popular tourist attractions within hours of arriving in the city.”
3. Make a travel plan before you travel
To keep the momentum going on your trip, Collette suggests creating a detailed itinerary before you travel.
She explains, “Having something to look forward to usually helps drive away my drowsiness, and I suggest you sort out some must-see sights for the first few days.”
In London, for example, she planned a number of things for her first two days to fuel her excitement, the highlights being a good afternoon tea and a trip to Westminster Abbey.
Between February 23 and March 12, Collette flew from Chicago to Los Angeles, to London, back to Chicago, and then to New Zealand (stock image)
4. … But don’t force early morning activities to begin with
Collette says it’s best to avoid forcing early morning activities because your body takes a few days to acclimate.
Even if you’re an early riser, the traveler recommends deviating from your standard routine.
When she flew from Los Angeles to London, she said she “initially had nothing scheduled before 10am.”
She added, “I needed sleep and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything I really wanted to see.”
5. Get some exercise and enjoy the daylight
In every city she visits, Collette says she enjoys going for a run.
Not only is this a great way to explore new places, but she points out that “according to the Mayo Clinic, exposing yourself to daylight at certain times can help your body get into the new time zone more easily.”
When she landed in New Zealand, Collette fought the urge to take a nap and instead opted for a three-mile trail run by her hotel.
After dinner, she said the exercise session also helped her sleep better.
6. Listen to your body
While it’s easy to set rules, Collette says it’s more important to listen to your body.
She explains that, according to the Mayo Clinic, “your” sleep-wake cycle can get out of sync when you switch time zones…so sometimes you have to forgive yourself.’
For example, if you go to your hotel room feeling incredibly sleepy, take a 30-minute power nap and set an alarm.
That way you give your body what it wants without wiping out a day or an evening.
Collette explains that, according to the Mayo Clinic, “your sleep-wake” cycle can get out of sync when you switch time zones (stock image)
7. Be flexible
Following the same line of thinking as “listening to your body,” Collette says it’s important to be flexible.
Power naps help you regain your strength so you can enjoy all the activities on your agenda instead of feeling dizzy.
While you might feel like you’re missing out by getting some shut-eye in the middle of the day, it’s always possible to reschedule things, and Collette says to travelers, “Don’t let your schedule stop you from being in the moment.” are. ‘
Sometimes you get the best experiences by mixing things up and going with the flow.
8. Drink plenty of water
A golden rule among the travel community when it comes to flying is to stay hydrated.
Collette said she drank her entire 32-ounce reusable water bottle on one of her flights and had to ask for a few more bottles.
Although she had to use the bathroom more often than she would have liked, she said the frequent visits to the toilet gave her an opportunity to stretch her legs, so it “felt like a win-win situation.”
9. Don’t rely too much on caffeine
Having a cup of coffee in the afternoon to pick you up is “probably fine,” Collette says, but it’s best to avoid caffeine in the evening.
Sometimes having caffeine later in the day can affect sleep patterns.
Instead of relying on shots of espresso to get you through it, Collette suggests eating an early dinner and going to bed.
For her, she says this generally helps her feel refreshed the next day.
10. Don’t plan too much for your return
When you return, Collette recommends planning as little as possible.
She explains, “It’s hard to completely avoid jet lag, but it’s easier to adjust if you don’t come home with a packed schedule.”
Ideally, she says, it would be good to schedule an extra vacation day for when you get home so you can get your energy levels back up.