How She Travels: Jetlag Hacks
Kathy Buckworth
While the best part of a trip can be getting there, suffering from jetlag can significantly impact the
start of your trip, or filter into your work and home life upon return. Here are some tips to help you
avoid jetlag and make the transition smooth.
Prior to Travel:
If the time difference is significant, start preparing before you leave. Go to bed earlier or later, (depending on the time zone you are traveling to) and try to slightly adjust your meals times to the new time zone.
Look into booking “Premium Plus” seats if traveling in economy. Often for a reasonable fee, you can find a seat with more leg room, allowing for a more comfortable flight and opportunity to sleep.
Be aware that exit row seats sometimes do not recline (last row seats never do). If you know you
don’t normally get up a lot during a flight, try to book a window seat, so you can use the plane wall as a place to lay your head (with a pillow or sweater). If you’re in the aisle seat, you may be woken several times during a long flight for others to get out of the row.
During the Flight:
As soon as you get on the plane, adjust your watch to the time zone you are flying to, and do the
things you would normally do at that time (eating, sleeping).
If you’re traveling overnight, with arrival at the start of the day where you land, try to sleep on the plane. But if you’re traveling expecting to arrive at night, try to avoid sleeping prior to getting in to your bed at your destination.
Consider taking a natural supplement like Pascoflair to help you relax on the flight, which means
you are less likely to suffer from the effects of stress on arrival (ie illness).
Drink lots of water on the flight – 250ml for every hour of plane time.
Don’t drink alcohol on the flight and eat lightly.
Reclining seats are great, but make sure you’re not making the person behind you too
uncomfortable.
Act as if you are “waking up” if it’s an overnight flight – brush your teeth, comb your hair, wash
your face once you’ve arrived at the destination.
It’s great to catch up on television shows and watch movies on screens available on the flight, but just like at home, screens can keep you awake longer. Take along a book or magazine to assist in sleeping.
After Travel:
For short trip (i.e. 48 hours or less), if it is convenient, you can try to stick to the time/schedule you have at home, to make adjustment upon landing easier.
If possible, try not to have anything too physically or mentally taxing planned for a day or two upon landing, and push yourself to adjust to the time quickly versus dragging it out for a week.
Neurapas balance to help you reset your time (1 tablet twice daily morning and night the day before flying and for a couple of days afterwards).
Avoid constantly comparing the time zone you are in, to the one at home, or where you just came from.
Kathy Buckworth
Author, I Am So The Boss Of You (Random House)
Family & Travel Expert, CBC’s Steven & Chris Show
Travel Expert, How She Travels, on Sirius/XM What She Said
Chief Family Advisor, President’s Choice Financial & PC Plus
Member, PWAC, TMAC, ASJA, CWU