No one likes jet lag, but it’s even worse when you’ve just landed in a beautiful holiday destination. Check out our four great tips for avoiding jet lag so you can start enjoying your vacation straight away.
When doing an overseas holiday, it’s likely you’ll encounter the body-wracking ailment of jet lag. The the difference in time zones takes a toll on your system, causing symptoms like fatigue, disorientation and an impairment of cognitive abilities. It’s extremely annoying, especially if you’ve just arrived at your destination with a full day ahead of you, which is then wasted as you crash in your hotel room. There are definitely some important dos and don’ts when it comes to jet lag and minimising its impact. Here, we’ve compiled a handy guide to help you when you’re embarking on your next Wyndham holiday. It’ll be a huge help to have these tips under your belt next time you’re landing in a foreign, breathtaking country.
Why do you get jet lag?
You feel jet lagged because your body is out of sync with local time zones. It affects your circadian rhythms; they’re your internal clock, which takes cues from your environmental surroundings (such as daylight) and calculates when your body should sleep or wake up.
Another reason for jet lag is that travelling at high altitudes under different pressures has a detrimental effect on your body. Firstly, you’re likely to be lacking in sleep if you’re catching a flight at odd hours. Secondly, you may not be able to get sleep on a plane, and, as it’s travelling through different time zones, your body’s internal clock won’t get the usual cues. Lastly, the atmosphere in your plane cabin will be pressurised, most likely at 8000 feet, and, as a result, the oxygen levels in your blood will be lower, so you’re not only out of sync with the normal hours of a day, but also dehydrated, fatigued and uncomfortable.
Our Tips For Avoiding Jet Lag
Tip 1: Adapt your body to the new time zone ahead of travelling
Find out the time difference, and start adapting your routine to emulate your holiday time zone. For example, if you’re losing a few hours, begin by going to bed, eating meals and waking up earlier each day so that when you arrive at your new destination, there’s less difference between your internal clock and the local time.
Tip 2: Sleep to the local times
The best way to adapt to the cycles of the new day is to behave normally – sleeping when it’s dark and waking up when it’s light. You might want to take a nap when you arrive, which isn’t unusual, but make sure you don’t sleep long enough to enter deep sleep (two hours max, suggests The Sleep Foundation) in order to avoid wake-up grogginess. Spending time outside in sunlight will also help, as will changing the times on your devices.
Tip 3: Eat foods that promote melatonin
Consuming certain foods that help regulate your sleep hormone (melatonin) before bedtime will aid you in settling down for the night, especially if you’re not tired. A few hours before bed, try consuming dairy foods, nuts or even melatonin tablets. Melatonin supplements are generally available from local chemists, and don’t require a prescription.
Tip 4: Take Care of Yourself
Since your body is feeling tired and run-down, it’s important to look after your health to prevent avoid getting sick while you’re on holiday. Keep our above jet lag tips in mind, but also remember to drink plenty of water, eat nutritious fruits and veggies, and, if your body is really craving sleep, take a short rest.
With these four great jet lag tips, you’ll soon be a natural at juggling different time zones during your Wyndham holidays. Good luck, and bon voyage!
