One of the downsides – maybe even the downside - of travelling halfway across the world is the dazed, irritable, and downright exhausted feeling that comes after a long flight. Yep, jet lag can be a real blight on the start of your holiday, especially when all you want to do is get on with having a great time.
:focal(999x252:1017x276):quality(70))
Combatting Jet Lag
:quality(70))
Thankfully, you don’t have to spend the first few days of your hol curled up in a grumpy, sleep-deprived ball in your cabin. Jet lag can easily be reduced. With a few hints and hacks, we’ll show you how you can start your holiday feeling refreshed, energised and ready to have the time of your life.
:quality(70))
What is jet lag?
Bear with us while we get a bit science-y for a sec, but we think it’s worth knowing what jet lag is and why it happens.
:quality(70))
Basically, it’s a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder that happens when your 24-hour internal clock, known as your circadian rhythm, doesn’t match the local day-night cycle. In other words, flying across three or more time zones knocks everything out of whack, causing you to stay up later, sleep at strange hours or feel more tired than you’d usually be.
:quality(70))
Some common jet lag symptoms
)
Trouble sleeping
Trouble sleeping
Jet lag can make it hard to doze off, stay asleep and cause you to wake up earlier than you’d like.
)
Sleeping during the day
Sleeping during the day
All that tiredness and drowsiness means you can end up sleeping during daytime hours.
)
Foggy thinking
Foggy thinking
Your attention span, memory and general thinking tend to be slower and less sharp than usual.
)
Groggy physical functions
Groggy physical functions
Slow and sluggish movements are another common symptom of jet lag.
)
Increased negative emotions
Increased negative emotions
All that disturbed sleep can lead you to feel grumpier, more irritable and generally down in the dumps while you recover.
)
Stomach problems
Stomach problems
Not as hungry as usual? Reduced appetite, nausea, constipation and even irritable bowel syndrome can all happen as a result of jet lag.
)
Sleep paralysis and seizures
Sleep paralysis and seizures
It’s very uncommon, but the problems jet lag can cause with your sleep may lead to sleep paralysis and night-time seizures. Yikes!
How does jet lag work?
Jet lag happens because your circadian rhythm is disrupted.
:quality(70))
This affects how and when your body produces hormones that play a role in your sleep and other bodily processes.
:quality(70))
How long does jet lag last?
Jet lag lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks (if you’re really unlucky). You’ll be glad to hear that, for the most part, the symptoms generally go on for around 1-1.5 days per time zone crossed – though their length does depend on the person and the type of trip.
:quality(70))
Jet lag usually goes away by itself once your body’s circadian rhythm has adjusted to the local time of your destination. Nevertheless, you can still reduce jet lag’s effects by doing the following…
:quality(70))
How to avoid jet lag
)
How to get over jet lag
)
