How to handle jetlag

8 TIPS ON HOW TO STEP OUT OF A PLANE FEELING FRESH

Even though I love winter (not on ski slopes though, never been actually), I always end up craving sunshine. I spend Christmas with family and then usually fly to a warm tropical resort. I’m not the only one that ends the year in this way. Liesbeth has just (seriously not even an hour ago, and she is now dancing on her chair) booked a ticket to Rio de Janeiro. She’s leaving during Christmas actually and will be celebrating New Year there. As soon as she’s back, I’m packing my case for Thailand and Josselin has been surfing the net for days now, searching for a trip to book.

Good, all lovely and nice, we’ve got no room to complain, but sitting for longer than 8 hours in an aircraft usually means jetlag. And that is what I want to talk about today. Tips for how you can stay fresh and rid yourself of jetlag as quickly as possible. Here they come:

– One of the reasons for jetlag is dehydration. The air in the cabin is so dry and the air con does not help at all. So drink more than usual. You can ask for as much water as you want on most flights.

– Watch out with caffeine and alcoholic beverages: they dissipate body fluids. Sorry for the people with fear of flying, but strictly no drinking before boarding.

– This is difficult, but try to adapt to your new daily cycle, start adapting your sleep pattern from 4 days before departure to give your biological clock a helping hand. If you’re travelling west (like to New York), then start going to bed an hour later than normal. It you’re travelling east, like to Thailand, then start going to bed 1 to 2 hours earlier each evening and get up earlier the next day.

– I can totally understand that you want to sleep on a flight, but it is essential to move. So take care with sleeping pills. I once knocked myself out for 12 hours (ok, it was a pill for an elephant) and woke up with gigantically swollen calves. It took around two weeks before I recovered. Try to get up every two hours for a little walk and stretch here and there. Airlines give tips on exercises to do during flight, which can be found on the pamphlet in the little pocket in front of you.

– If possible, take a day flight. This lets you end your (short) day with a good nights rest. Night flights usually arrive in the early morning. You could rest for a few hours first and then get up and stay up until night time in your new time zone.

– People sometimes eat too much before a flight because the airline meals are, how shall I put it, not great. Don’t eat them. Your metabolism works slower while trying to adjust to your new situation. A heavy meal in combination with a slow metabolic rate is not good.

– Smear your skin and body in with a good moisturising body lotion. Your skin dries out badly in the air so this will help keep you fitter.

– And finally, if you arrive late in the evening but it is still actually day time for you, dive into the closest disco, drink and party till the sun comes up and then figure it out later.

Bon Voyage!