Don’t let jet lag ruin your trip! Follow these tips to adjust your sleep for travel

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, chances are you don’t want to arrive at your destination feeling fatigued and disoriented. But as you cross over time zones, jet lag can wreak havoc on your body and leave you feeling less than your best for that big business meeting or long-awaited vacation. 
  
Here are some tips to put into practice before, during and after the flight to ensure that your mind and body are ready to go as soon as the plane touches down on the tarmac.

Before Takeoff
If you’re traveling to a vastly different time zone, consider slowly adjusting your sleeping schedule in the days leading up to the flight, and no matter what the time difference make sure you are a good night sleep in the days prior to your flight. Getting plenty of sleep before your departure can help you stay awake throughout the day of your arrival and make it easier to avoid throwing off your schedule with naps throughout the day. If you are flying overnight, exercising before you leave can be a great way to help ensure that you fall asleep on the plane.

During Flight
The dry air inside the aircraft can easily lead to dehydration and leave you feeling more rundown and lethargic. To avoid this, steer away from alcohol consumption and instead drink lots of water to remain well hydrated. Also, use the flight time to get plenty of rest. By slipping a sleep mask over your eyes and SleepPhones over your ears you can shut out the unwanted light and sound and create the ideal sleeping environment. Using a neck pillow can also aid you in sleeping more comfortably.

Upon Arrival
If you arrive at night, try to head to bed as quickly as possible. According to Fox News, a minimum of four hours sleep your first night is crucial to helping you recover from jet lag. The use of a sleep mask and SleepPhones can again make falling asleep easier. If you arrive during the day, don’t give in to the temptation to nap during the day. Instead, push through and try to expose yourself to as much daylight as possible to help your body’s circadian rhythms adjust.

While jet lag varies from individual to individual, Fox News provides the ‘one-to-one’ rule for adjusting – for every one time zone you cross it will take one day to adjust completely. By following the above advice you can help to greatly expedite this process and make your trip an even more enjoyable and restful one.