| Whether you are flying for business or pleasure, jet | | | | 2.If you are due to land in the morning at your |
| lag can seriously impair your performance and holiday | | | | destination, try to sleep during the flight. Sleeping on |
| fun for days. | | | | board a plane in cramped conditions isn't easy but |
| Jet lag occurs when the body's rhythms are out of | | | | take off your shoes and try to get comfortable. |
| sync with your destination time - the body operates | | | | Take an eye mask and ear plugs with you to help |
| on a 24-hour cycle, and travelling to a different time | | | | block out cabin distractions and a blow up neck rest |
| zone alters the body's natural rhythm causing jet lag. | | | | should add to your comfort. Even if you are unable |
| The more time zones you cross the worse it can be | | | | to sleep throughout the flight, just try to rest, close |
| and travelling east generally has a greater affect on | | | | your eyes and try to 'switch off'. |
| jet lag than travelling west. It is easier on the body's | | | | 3.If you are due to land at night, try to stay awake |
| biorhythms to add a few extra hours to the day, as | | | | throughout the flight. Read a book, listen to some |
| in travelling west, than reducing the number of hours | | | | music but try to resist sleeping as this will mean you |
| in a day when travelling east. The speed with which | | | | will be unable to sleep destination time and take |
| your body can realign itself to your new time zone, | | | | longer for your body clock to adjust. |
| adjusting its body rhythm to daylight, darkness, | | | | 4.Set your watch to your destination time as soon as |
| eating and sleeping in the new time zone, affects the | | | | you get on the plane and try to live by it straight |
| length of time you experience jet lag for. | | | | away. Try to eat at times appropriate to your |
| Jet lag can cause any or all of the following | | | | destination time not departure time. |
| symptoms: | | | | 5.Some people reduce the impact of time zone |
| - Fatigue and lethargy | | | | changes by gradually adapting their routine by an |
| - Insomnia | | | | hour or so a few days before they travel. By getting |
| - Disorientation | | | | up an hour earlier or staying up later for a few days |
| - Swollen hands and feet | | | | prior to departure depending on their destination time. |
| - Headaches | | | | 6.If you arrive in the daytime, try to avoid the |
| - Digestive problems | | | | temptation to sleep, get outside in the sunshine. |
| - Irritability or anxiety | | | | Daylight, or any light, is a major factor in resetting |
| - Lack of concentration | | | | your internal clock. If you are exhausted and have to |
| - Loss of appetite and nausea | | | | sleep try to limit a nap to one hour - set an alarm |
| - Dehydration. | | | | clock or your mobile phone to wake you. |
| It is often thought that it takes a day to recover for | | | | 7.If you arrive at night and don't feel sleepy, try a |
| each time zone travelled through - this is great news | | | | warm bath and a glass of warm milk - a natural sleep |
| for travellers on a week's holiday or a business | | | | inducer. |
| traveller on a three day conference halfway across | | | | 8.Resist the urge to party all night for the first couple |
| the world! | | | | days and get a couple of good nights' sleep. This |
| So what can you do to minimise the affects of jet | | | | should help you get you adjust your body clock to |
| lag? The following tips are designed to help you avoid | | | | your destination time and make for a more enjoyable |
| the worst of jet lag and realign your body clock as | | | | stay. |
| soon as possible. | | | | There is no miracle cure for jet lag, but by following |
| 1.Drink plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and caffeine. | | | | the above tips you should minimise the effects of jet |
| Water is best but, if you find drinking large amounts | | | | lag at your destination, and don't forget to use the |
| of water difficult or just plain boring, fruit juice and | | | | above tips for your return too. |
| herbal teas will do. | | | | |