I love traveling but hate the dreaded jetlag. Don’t we all? Never seem to avoid it completely though there are some things you can do to at least minimise it.
As I write this I am right in the middle of suffering. Does it always seem worse when you come back from a holiday? Maybe the holiday blues make it worse. The excitement of starting a holiday seems to take the edge of weird sleep patterns, but I feel like a zombie when I come back.
Here are some of my tips that I find helpful. Please note I am no medical professional and they are only what I find work for me. Always check with your own doctor first.
1 Prepare
I Build up my immune system a few weeks before take off. Just helps to not pick up any colds and flues which would only make jetlag worse. Olive Leaf extract and vitamin C works well. I continue to take it while away. To make the long flights more comfortable I wear travel socks and take Magnesium for leg cramps. Also, keep up the fluids and avoid excess coffee and alcohol. The coffee part I struggle with so I add electrolyte drinks to my fluids to compensate. I just love my coffee too much
2 Relax
Don’t stress about not sleeping all night. If you wake up just roll over and relax. You often fall asleep again. If you find yourself wide awake but exhausted get up and make yourself a hot drink. Milk with honey or relaxation tea is my favourites. Take it to bed and enjoy slowly while listening to an audio book. If all else fails hop onto WordPress and do some reading 😄
3 Eat well
After a long flight of eating airline food I crave fresh vegetables and fruit with texture and crunch. This time I arrived back to Sydney early evening after a 25 hour flight and I returned to an almost empty fridge. So it was crackers and cheese last night. So this morning I made my way to the local mall and enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the sun. Poached eggs on sourdough toast with feta mushrooms and rocket. And of course a huge mug of delicious steaming coffee. I ate it all with relish and it energised me enough to do some grocery shopping to fill my empty fridge. Dinner is going to be salmon with stirfry vegetable. Easy to prepare and scrumptious.
4. Hydrate and fresh air<
25 hours of sitting in recycled aircon air dehydrates our bodies which depletes our energy quick smart. Plain water is great to keep hydrated but I find Hydralyte work better. I bought some at the store and enjoyed a large glass of lemon flavoured Hydralyte with a big juicy mango this afternoon. Just sitting on my veranda in the dabbled sun was energising on its own.
5 Sleep<
The best remedy, of course, is a comfy bed and a good nights sleep. Before I leave I always make sure I have my bed made up with clean linen. Nothing like hopping into your own bed feeling crisp clean sheets on your skin.
6 Acceptance
In spite of all the tricks and remedies I am just like everyone else and sometimes we just have to accept our jet lag knowing it is the result of traveling and hopefully a great holiday.
What are your tips?
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