We all know that someone who came back from a trip with a major case of jetlag. Where they couldn't wake up in the morning, took a nap in the afternoon, couldn't stay up past 8pm, and woke up in the middle of the night completely alert. Maybe it was a best friend grumbling over coffee, a parent falling asleep at the wheel, a sibling not fighting back from lack of energy... okay, it was just me.

I had lived in Korea for two years when WHAM! My contract had ended and the negotiations for the new contract fell through. So I was coming home... then came home... and then struggled to understand how Americans survived each day. How in the world do you deal with jetlag?

Tell me some ADVICE by taking the spaces out of this code: [CENTER][B][COLOR="DarkRed"]ADVICE![ /COLOR][ /B][ /CENTER]

Tell me a STORY (or three) by take the spaces out of this code: [CENTER][B][COLOR="Navy"]Story![ /COLOR][ /B][ /CENTER]

Hmm...I don't have any problems with jetlag, since I'm a natural night owl, so by traveling across the planet, I'm essentially getting a 'normal' sleep pattern...until my body catches up with me again and goes back to being a night owl. *facedesk*

ADVICE!

The best thing I've found for avoiding jet lag is all about how you treat the days before and after travel and, naturally, the day of.

The day before: Really this applies more to the night before you hop on that plane but make sure you get a good night's sleep! 8-9 hours is recommended and try to do your best to not be stressed out while you're travelling because that in itself will wear you down.

The day of: Stress less, and get places early. Try to sleep on the plane but don't absolutely bank on being able to! When you finally arrive at your destination don't take that nap you've been dreaming of since the back of the customs line. Force yourself to stay up and moving until it is time to go to sleep locally. I would suggest doing some light exploring around town... nothing strenuous, just something vaguely active. You should definitely set an alarm for the morning!

The day after: Get up to that alarm no matter how much it hurts!! You'll do well if you make yourself move in the morning so plan on something more demanding and captivating-- if there is a hill, climb it but take things a little easier in the afternoon.

Your body is pretty adaptable if you force your internal clock to re-regulate through your activity levels. Pushing yourself the day you arrive will no doubt be the hardest part of the trip with, perhaps, the exception of returning home. The same basic steps are suggested for that despite the siren song of extra snuggle time with your own pillows (at last)!

Story!

Now that is wonderful advice! Better than what I did my first time coming back overseas. I stayed up all day and taught my last class. Then I stayed up all night. Then I got on the plane in Seoul the next day... had a long layover in Japan and didn't leave there until evening. That was 48 hours. Landed in the states around 52 hours of being awake. Ten hours after that I finished my transfer to my final destination and got to sleep after talking with friends. Never have I felt like that before nor do I wish to feel that way again.

Originally Posted by Mythos

ADVICE!

The best thing I've found for avoiding jet lag is all about how you treat the days before and after travel and, naturally, the day of.

The day before: Really this applies more to the night before you hop on that plane but make sure you get a good night's sleep! 8-9 hours is recommended and try to do your best to not be stressed out while you're travelling because that in itself will wear you down.

The day of: Stress less, and get places early. Try to sleep on the plane but don't absolutely bank on being able to! When you finally arrive at your destination don't take that nap you've been dreaming of since the back of the customs line. Force yourself to stay up and moving until it is time to go to sleep locally. I would suggest doing some light exploring around town... nothing strenuous, just something vaguely active. You should definitely set an alarm for the morning!

The day after: Get up to that alarm no matter how much it hurts!! You'll do well if you make yourself move in the morning so plan on something more demanding and captivating-- if there is a hill, climb it but take things a little easier in the afternoon.

Your body is pretty adaptable if you force your internal clock to re-regulate through your activity levels. Pushing yourself the day you arrive will no doubt be the hardest part of the trip with, perhaps, the exception of returning home. The same basic steps are suggested for that despite the siren song of extra snuggle time with your own pillows (at last)!

Story!

Sound sound advice right here. For those that are traveling, heed these wise words and your lag might not that terrible. Also, if possible, do try to rest on the trip. I was an idiot and couldn't fall asleep so I ended up getting sick (yay for upset tummies) the day after I landed. 'twas not worth it. It took forever to recover and I felt sick the entire trip. Sleep when you can before the trip and force yourself to sleep after.

Solid advice, thanks for sharing!

advice
it sounds sillie but drinking a lot of water~not alcohol is essential!
if it's a long flight nap and get up to walk often
when you arrive stay awake!
try to sleep when you normally would but at the new destination time

What is the flight is 17 hours long? And staying awake is pretty darn hard?...

napping is fine
just don't sleep a long time
and please don't nap when you reach your destination

story
when i went to Sicily i slept on the plane
so when i got there i was a little groggie not tired
but i thought a 'nap' would help me adjust
i don't nap well, i SLEEP!
i woke up in a strange place, it's pitch black and i started having a panic attack
i had forgotten i flew somewhere and was freaked out by the smells and unfamilar sounds
i kind of groped my way to the bathroom and sat in the tub for awhile
it really messed me up for awhile, sleep wise.
so now i stay awake even it it's until very early like seven or eight
then i go to sleep local time.

advice i forgot
change your watch as soon as the Captain tells you local time
or if you think of it on your own
i always use military time
it helps you know if it's day or night
=)

Oh man! That is so true! Having your watch set is a lifesaver. I used to do military time and wish I did still.