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72 | FireFlyz
T
here
is nothing worse than a
severe bout of jet lag –waking
at crazy hours of the morning
and spending mid-afternoon
fighting the urge to curl up
and sleep. For the business
traveller jet lag can be a night-
mare; how to cope with that early morning
meeting when you’ve spent half the night
staring at the ceiling? Jet lag leaves you feeling
dazed, disoriented and exhausted, with a loss
of appetite and the general sensation of having
been dragged through a washing machine in
reverse. Not nice.
Why do we get jet lag?
Jet lag – or desynchronosis to use the posh
term – is what is known as time zone syn-
drome and is caused by travelling rapidly from east to west or vice versa, crossing time
zones faster than is natural for our bodies clocks.
Jumping between time zones causes humans such difficulty because our bodies
operate on a circadian rhythm, a 24-hour cycle that serves as our internal time keeping
system and governs all the processes of the body, including sleeping, temperature
regulation and eating. Think of the circadian rhythm as your very own clock used by
your body to schedule when things should happen, such as ensuring you sleep at night
time and getting hungry for lunch.
When the clock suddenly jumps 10 hours ahead or rewinds six hours, your body
enters a state of confusion. What time should you be sleeping? And when should
you be eating?! Jet lag is your body struggling to cope with having the clock turned
upside down.
Much research has been done into time zone syndrome and its effects, with general
conclusions formed about what impacts the severity of its symptoms and which lucky
people avoid the worst of it. It seems that travelling across one or two time zones
proves to be fairly manageable for your body, but once you start travelling three hours
backwards or forwards in time, things start to get a bit muddled. Travelling westward
seems to cause more severe jetlag, and older people are also known to suffer the effects
more than the young.
What can I do to avoid it?
Many people have their own theories and ‘secret remedies’ for avoiding it, but there
are also some fast facts about what works when seeking to ease the pain of jet lag.
Fit and healthy
People who are fit, healthy, well-rested and usually eat a nutritional, balanced diet tend
to have milder symptoms of jet lag – yet another reason to take good care of yourself!
Jet lag is the enemy of all long distance travellers, but
if you travel smart you can prevent time zones playing
havoc with your body.
Under control
If you have a have a medical condition,
minimise the impact of jet lag by making
sure your condition is managed and under
control: take the correct medication and
look after yourself appropriately.
Drink up
Dehydration is a risk on a flight due to the
cabin pressure, and this will make symp-
toms of jet lag worse. Drink lots of water
throughout the flight and after landing.
Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol on board,
both of which will cause dehydration.
Join in the fun
From the moment you land, embrace
the time of your destination, eating and
sleeping at the moment appropriate to
your new country. This adjustment will
be tough initially, but the sooner you
introduce your body to the new time
zone the quicker the internal clock can
get itself sorted.
Eat right
Try and eat lighter meals that your body
can digest more easily on the flight,
preventing you feeling sluggish and heavy.
Upon arrival, make your first meal a
high-protein one to give your body lots
of energy to stay active despite the urge
to sleep!
Get moving
On your first day in your destination,
get outside and get some exercise – both
will keep you awake and help your body
get used to the new time zone. Fresh air
and exercise will also provide a boost of
energy, as sitting around in the hotel room
will only make you feel lethargic.
Stay warm
Some research suggests that raising your
temperature can help to reset the body
clock, so make sure you stay warm on the
flight and wrap up in your destination,
especially if the weather is colder than in
the place you left.
Aim for day three
They say that day two is the worst for jet
lag after a flight, so keep up your exercise,
sunlight and healthy eating regimes until
you reach the safe zone of day three and
prepare to feel normal again!
Reflections
Time Zones Don’t
Have to Zone You Out!