Jet Lag remedies

[mookie]

Anyone have any tried and tested ways to get through the time change associated with traveling to different time zones?

:-( I am struggling.

Thanks in advance.

[crimsonandclover]

Which direction did you travel? West or East? How many time zones?

When I travel east, I just force myself to get up early (like 7 or 8am) and then take Tylenol PM if I can't fall asleep at night. Going east is worse for almost everyone because you're not tired at night and exhausted in the morning.

Travelling west usually isn't as bad. Then I just make myself stay up a few hours later each night and am adjusted after 2-3 days.

[Cheesecake]

Honestly, the only tried and true way to not have jet lag, is to not travel. you'll always have some. The only thing you can do is - like others said - trying to adjust to the new schedule as much as possible immediately. Besides that you'll always have some jet lag.

(This is assuming you'll have over 4 hours of time difference. if it's less than that, don't whine and just pull though like you're going out that night or are having an early morning.)

[Wanderista]

I agree with everything else that's been said. Also, it may be just me, but I try to stay hydrated. I make sure to drink plenty of fluids including throughout travel because airplanes are dehydrating. Sometimes, I've also taken vitamin C to boost my immune system. I was recommended Emergen-C by someone else and it really does make me feel more energetic. When I get to my destination, I'll drink plenty of water and perhaps an herbal tea. That makes me feel better until it is the correct time to sleep.

[crimsonandclover]

Oh, and they say you should give yourself a day for each time zone. I usually travel across 7, so I should be my normal self on a schedule in a week. Going west it doesn't usually take that long, going east it can.

[mrsukyankee]

I arrived back in England after two weeks in the States. While in the States, we just tried to stay up as late as we could and we woke up early. We didn't feel exhausted during the day but struggled a bit at night until day 5 or so. Tonight is the second night in England. When we arrived on Monday (overnight flight with about 3 hours sleep), I took a short nap and then forced myself to stay up to 9pm. I woke at 4am (dog licking me) and slept again until 7. It's now 10:15 and I'm just feeling sleepy. Exercising today helped a lot!

[potatopie]

Ugh. I'm suffering too. Just came up to my room to take a little nap because I can't make it through the day. But I second what everyone else is saying and will just add the Melatonin is really nice. It's the natural hormone that regulates sleep. You can find it most anywhere they sell vitamins and herbal remedies. It's fantastic when you fly east and aren't tired at night. Though it doesn't help when you fly west and are exhausted all day. Boo.

[cricketwife]

Sunlight is also supposed to help. Try to get outside and get exposure to the sun during the day if you can. Jetlag sucks.

[jennybee1018]

Ditto Potato, we swear by Melatonin. We take it before bed, and then leave a few out in case we wake up at 3 AM, and then we take more. It really helps!!

Also, it's best to force yourself into a regular schedule. When you feel tired, do not take a nap. Otherwise you're feeding the jet lag & making it worse!

We just got back in June, and I went straight back to work & took melatonin at night, and I barely felt any jet lag! Good luck!!

[clickerish]

Two people mentioned melatonin...I find this interesting. I was told to try it for insomnia. Maybe I will since other people seem to use it for jetlag.

I treat jetlag like the occasional flu: unavoidable but manageable. Drink water and don't just sleep unless you're pregnant or completely incapable of functioning. It makes it worse.

[mookie]

Thanks everyone. I traveled east, with a 7 hrs time difference. It's day 6 and I'm still not falling asleep until around 5/6 in the morning. It's awful. I'll be hitting the gym this evening, hoping that will tire me out and will get some drugs, too. I was hoping my body would eventually adjust, but it doesn't seem to be happening and it's just interfering with my life, at this point. I appreciate all your advice.

[crimsonandclover]

Jul 18, 2012 8:44:57 GMT -5 mookie said:

Thanks everyone. I traveled east, with a 7 hrs time difference. It's day 6 and I'm still not falling asleep until around 5/6 in the morning. It's awful. I'll be hitting the gym this evening, hoping that will tire me out and will get some drugs, too. I was hoping my body would eventually adjust, but it doesn't seem to be happening and it's just interfering with my life, at this point. I appreciate all your advice.

Are you forcing yourself to get up early? That will usually make you get tired earlier at night.