JETLAG
Heather Denniston DC CCWP
Professional Speaker, Wellness strategist, Executive Coach, Author - Bridging the connection between personal well-being and professional success
Today is the first of a 35-day trip to Greece!??
We left Seattle at 1:30 in the afternoon and will land in Athens at 3:00 PM, 16 hours later. – Nine-hour first flight, four-and-a-half-hour layover in Paris, and three-hour flight to Athens.??????
All that? A recipe for jetlag disaster. Having traveled extensively over the last decade, I have learned to minimize jet lag's effects. Trial and error have created a toolbox of non-negotiable practices for beating the "Lag." If you would like to avoid jetlag on your next trip, read through these jetlag to-dos.
??? TOOLS FOR CRUSHING JET LAG ???
??MIND OVER MATTER – Change your clock immediately to the time zone you are arriving in. I NEVER do the math to calculate. "Oh my God, it is ____ o'clock at home." That kind of math will kill you. Keep telling your brain the time where it is in the place you will be landing. #timezone
??ELECTROLYTES – Hydration IS the GREATEST tool to avoid jet lag. You likely already know that. But adding electrolytes to help your little fatigued "raisin" cells plump more readily when properly mineralized may not be something you practice. I carry LMNT and always take at least one on long flights. #LMNT
??MELATONIN – I am still a fan of melatonin to turn that clock around. Dosing two nights in a row after landing in your new time zone is tremendously effective. I prefer spray melatonin because it is faster acting and easier to regulate dosage. See recommended brand in comments. #melatonin
??SUNLIGHT – This recommendation may seem obvious but GET OUTSIDE. Spend as much time outside as possible on day one. Getting natural light through your little peepers helps your pineal gland know it is daytime! #daytimeEAT – Focus on protein and moderate sugar and alcohol for the first two days. Protein and fats provide steady energy. "Carby" spikes and dips can make you feel tired. #PROTEIN
????♀?EXERCISE – Walk, go to a gym, hit a local yoga class. Brent and I often book a bike tour on the first morning in a new city. It gets us up at the right time of day and maneuvers us out into daylight. A bike tour gives you an excellent overview of the city and ideas about where you want to return to during your stay. We often use #FATTIREBIKE TOURS, and thanks to Lee Ann Steyns at Signing Babies for the original bike tour recommendation. #EXERCISE
?FIGHT THE SEDUCTION – Oh, a nap. Just a little one. Just a few minutes. NOOOOOOOOO. Do not nap on day one or two. Fight the good fight, my friend. Go for a walk, eat something, or do jumping jacks, but do not, under any circumstances, nap.
Try some of these tips on your next cross-country or international trip.
Jet lag is a preventable vacation dream crusher!
Have a good trip!??
Recently Retired!
1 年For me, I have found the easiest way to acclimate is to force myself, no matter what, to stay awake on arrival day (read NO naps) until the appropriate normal time to go to sleep at my new destinationa. It's never failed for me. And the next morning I'm on local time ready to go,
CEO at CSE USA Inc. | Defense Programs, Strategic Collaboration
1 年I've discovered that gradually adjusting to the new time zone, a few days before my trip, enables me to seamlessly adapt upon arriving in Europe, minimizing the impact of severe jet lag. When visiting Central Europe, where there's a six-hour time difference from my usual time zone, my approach involves commencing a pre-travel routine. This routine entails waking up two hours earlier than my typical time two days before departure, advancing to four hours earlier than usual on the day prior to travel, and finally, waking up six hours earlier than my regular time on the day of travel. This method has proven effective in helping me acclimate to the new time zone, start off energetically upon my arrival, and stay up well past dinner without the brain fog which is typical of jet lag.
100% Usually we do great but on our trip to Athens we made the nap mistake. We arrived early Saturday morning and did the right things, then got our AirBnB at 3 PM. We wanted to have a fun night out so decided to take just a little nap to recharge. I set the alarm for 4:30 but when it went off the was nothing on this planet that would convince me to get up and Jen was just "oh no no no, just a few more minutes". We woke up around 9, refreshed and ready to go! That said, we did have a fun night out. It's interesting that you would think that you could simply do the right thing the next day, but the effects of both getting it right, and not, seem to persist for days. Anyway, enjoy!