How do you deal with jet lag? Travelling across time zones affects your mood, appetite, and overall health. Here are some tips to minimise jet lag symptoms for your next big trip.

How Travel Affects Your Body

Avoid the negative consequences of jet lag by following a few simple tips. Discover how to get some restful sleep, even when traveling long distances in our blog post!

Overview

Long-haul journeys across the world can be excruciatingly tiresome. You fly thousands of miles across the globe, and over several times, in hours. While it&rsquo;s a relief getting to your destination, your brain and body are still in sync with the place you left behind and not your destination. The excitement of finally reaching your destination wanes as fatigue catches up with you and you suddenly feel out of sync. 
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Jet Lag

If your sleep cycle seems out of sync after you&rsquo;ve reached your destination, it&rsquo;s probably because you are jet-lagged.

Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder that can affect anyone who flies across three or more time zones. It disturbs your sleep and, consequently, your body&rsquo;s internal clock. 
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While the severity and length of the jet lag vary depending on the itinerary of the trip and individual circumstances, some of the common symptoms of jet lag are:

<ul>
	<li>Sleeping difficulty</li>
	<li>Daytime sleepiness</li>
	<li>Decreased <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/Mental%20Health">mental health</a> or physical performance</li>
	<li>General malaise</li>
	<li>Digestive problems</li>
</ul>

<h5> 
How Does Jet Lag Affects Your Body?</h5>

In a period of 24- hours, there is an innate rhythm (called circadian rhythm) for every physical, behavioural and mental change that your body undergoes. For instance, when you feel hungry or have to use the bathroom are some of the natural processes that occur primarily in response to the amount of light in your surroundings.

When you travel to a completely different time zone, your body clock is still set according to your home time or the time zone in which you are departing from. It will take a while to readjust and will occur at different rates for everyone. For example, you might feel strange eating and sleeping in the new time zone for a longer period as compared to your friend even though you both took the same flight. 
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<h5>How Long Does It Take to Get over Jet Lag?</h5>

If you&rsquo;ve travelled through numerous time zones, your jet lag symptoms are likely to be more severe. The general guideline is that it will take a day to adjust for every time zone you travel through. Thus, if you cross five time zones, your symptoms will probably last for five days. 
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<h5>How Can You Deal with Jet Lag? </h5>

The one thing you need to remember is that adjusting to a new time zone usually doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight. So, you need to give yourself some time and don&rsquo;t overthink about it.

<h5>Do</h5>

<ul>
	<li>Engage in some sort of physical activity, like working out, especially during the day hours.</li>
	<li>
	Go outside and spend time in the sun as this will help you in adjusting to your new time zone.
	</li>
</ul>

<h5>Don&rsquo;t</h5>

<ul>
	<li>Take long naps at all costs; make sure it&rsquo;s for 30 minutes max.</li>
	<li>Take caffeine two or three hours before your bedtime.</li>
	<li>Take sleeping pills as they can be addictive and cause bigger problems than jet lag.</li>
	<li>A Disturbed Menstrual Cycle: Another less-discussed side effect of travelling quickly and frequently over several time zones is that it may wreak a little havoc with the timing of your menstrual cycle. So, don&rsquo;t be alarmed if you get your period a few days early or if it&rsquo;s a few days late. This is a part of your body trying to adjust to being in a new location/direction of the sun. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Boost Your Immunity

Unlike popular misconception, it&rsquo;s not just the sleep; the disturbance can also leave you feeling sick that, in turn, can aggravate your condition more. Anyone who travels frequently knows how miserable it is to get sick on a trip. 
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Here are four tried and tested hacks to help you get through and make the most of your trip:

<ol>
	<li>&nbsp;Exercise: There is a direct link between exercise levels and good health. Generally, exercise increases the circulation of immune cells in your body. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol levels and other conditions like stress and depression. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>&nbsp;Sleep: Keep a balance between vigorous activities and rest because both are crucial for recovery. Prioritise sleep, even if that means spending less time with friends (sorry!) 
	While everyone&rsquo;s needs for sleep are different, a good goal would be seven hours daily. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>&nbsp;Diet: The quality of your diet is the single most crucial aspect in determining how healthy you are. Don&rsquo;t forget to consume a healthy serving of fruits and veggies at least once per day. Moreover, long travel will often leave your body dehydrated. Drink lots of water and fresh juices to overcome fatigue and other jet lag symptoms. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>&nbsp;Supplement: Sometimes dietary supplements aren&rsquo;t all they&rsquo;re cracked up to be. However, additional vitamins are a good investment to make sure your immune system is functioning at its best, particularly while travelling. This is because it&rsquo;s difficult to get the meals with the desired nutrients when you&rsquo;re travelling, which is where supplements come in quite handy. 
	&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

Bottom Line

When you first arrive in a new time zone, dealing with the symptoms of jet lag can be challenging. It usually takes a few days or weeks for jet lag to pass. While you can&rsquo;t prevent jet lag, you can deal with it by following some of the tips mentioned in the article above and ensuring your internal clock readjusts quickly.

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