GameBanshee Forums

I just got back from an exhausting work-related trip and I realized again how much I hate jetlag.

I know it's a very individual-related thing, but do you have any "recipes" that help reduce the effects of jetlag?

I always do the sunshine thing; it helps a bit. I tried melatonin before, but it just made me sleep too much (and oversleep for a 4pm meeting once LOL). I adjust my watch on the plane and follow the time of day at my destination. Keep hydrated. Drink vegetable juice. Pet a cat....

Hmm. Perhaps I am unlucky to be one of those people who just get hit by jetlag pretty hard

-kaitsuburi

I have had a couple of people (one of whom is a naturopath) tell me that Melatonin works very well; you should find it at natural food stores and the like.

My approach towards jet lag has generally been to take a long, hot shower when I reach my destination, followed by a light meal, and then bed until I wake up; even if this is the middle of the day I'll usually sleep through till the next morning. For some reason this helps my body clock to readjust, and I don't have any further problems. And I figure, I'm exhausted, there's no point in fighting it.

But that is just me; this stuff, as you stated, tends to be pretty subjective

Try relaxation techniques in flight... or some reading. Jetlag may be avoided, and is really an annoying thing.

Kaitsubiri: I fly a lot myself, although I am luckily not much affected by jet lag. It is highly individual, and apart from what you mentioned it is not really any good tricks around.

Drinking a lot of water and avioding alcohol and heavy meals helps. Light physical movement in-flight also helps to keep your blood circulation up - it's of course very limited what you can do, but moving around your legs and feet and standing up and walking in the isle as often as you can (if you are not sleeping) is the best. Most preferrable is of course if you like me can sleep during the flight, but many people have difficulties doing that.

If you have a constitution that happens to be severly affected, you could also try to start adjusting successively to the new diurnal rythm a couple of days in advance, although this is of course difficult if you fly very often.

Melatonin has not been demonstrated to work well in controlled, double-blind studies and as a human brain researcher I must say I do not recomment intake of a neurotransmitter unless you really need it.

Like DW, I usually take a long, hot shower when I reach my destination since that feels refreshing but also get your blood circulation going again after having been sitting still for many hours. Some light exercise like stretching a bit and talking a brisk walk is also good if you have time for that.

Originally posted by C Elegans
Like DW, I usually take a long, hot shower when I reach my destination since that feels refreshing but also get your blood circulation going again after having been sitting still for many hours.

Ah, that explains it. I always knew that the hot shower was doing more than just refreshing me, but I was never able to quite figure out why. Pretty obvious now that I consider it, but I'm rather stupid following a long flight

Will power. I have been travelling since i was born basically. It just doesnt hit me anymore. My recent trip. I was awake in Pakistan at 9 am CET on the 1st of June. I got to Geneva on the 2nd of June and didnt sleep till 12 pm. I was basically awake for more than 24 hours and flying. I had no problems at all.

It might be that you are used to it so jetlag doesnt hit you much. But one thing that i have noticed is the time at which you arrive. If you arrive in the day it normally helps you get through the day irrespective what time it is at your present destination and where you left from.

However if come at night, good luck. You will fall asleep before you even leave the airport. But honest i feel its about how used to going without sleep you are.

Originally posted by C Elegans
Melatonin has not been demonstrated to work well in controlled, double-blind studies and as a human brain researcher I must say I do not recomment intake of a neurotransmitter unless you really need it.

Interesting! Thanks a lot for the advice! I went swimming yesterday and today and did the long hot shower thing; I think it worked somewhat

I wish I could be like my mom ~ as long as she gets a cat in her lap she falls asleep (well, at my parents' house we have 3 cats, so the effect is triple LOL)...

Off to bed

-kaitsuburi

I don't really notice jetlag, myself. Then again, maybe I'm too dense to realize it's affecting me.