How to adjust to a new time zone
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
- Travel Pillows
- Alarm Clocks
- Eye Masks
- Melatonin
- Women's Watches
- Soothing Music
1. 1
Switch to your new time zone as soon as you leave home. Reset your watch and act as if you were already in the new time zone.
2. 2
Sleep on the plane if it is nighttime in your new time zone. Stay awake if it's daytime.
3. 3
Avoid the urge to nap if you arrive at your destination during the day. Go outdoors as much as possible if you need to stay awake, since natural light will help reset your body clock.
4. 4
Retire to bed at the local bedtime.
5. 5
Take melatonin to help you sleep; some studies indicate it can help reset your body clock. Follow the directions on the bottle.
6. 6
Eat meals according to local time.
Read more: How to Adjust to New Time Zones | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_3016_adjust-new-time.html#ixzz1BupdwK9W
How to Adjust Your Body Clock
By agilityman, eHow Member
User-Submitted Article
The recent switch to daylight savings time (spring forward!) has probably reminded people of the challenge of adjusting to a new time zone. This is only one hour. Imagine if you had to adjust to a five or eight or ten hour difference!
Whether you call it your "Body Clock" or "Jet Lag" or "Time Zone Adjustment" or even "Desynchronosis," the problem of getting your body insync with the time zone you're now inhabiting is a challenge for most people.
There are no automatic solutions for dealing with your Body Clock because the symptoms of jet lag vary with each person (and thus, what works with Jack may not work with Jill). With that caveat acknowledged, let's look at the best options for managing and minimizing jet lag.
Whether you call it your "Body Clock" or "Jet Lag" or "Time Zone Adjustment" or even "Desynchronosis," the problem of getting your body insync with the time zone you're now inhabiting is a challenge for most people.
There are no automatic solutions for dealing with your Body Clock because the symptoms of jet lag vary with each person (and thus, what works with Jack may not work with Jill). With that caveat acknowledged, let's look at the best options for managing and minimizing jet lag.
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions
1. 1
Pre-Travel. Pre-travel preparation has a big impact on how severe your case of jet lag is. It helps to get business and personal details managed (so you aren't stressing over them during the flight). Get some good exercise in the days before the trip--it will pay off immensely. If possible, try to get a good night's sleep the day before you travel.
2. 2
Travel Time. Drink lots of fluids--most travel is dehydrating (especially in airplanes). Water is better than juice which is better than coffee which is better than alcohol. Alcohol's effect is intensified at higher altitudes, does not help deal with jet lag and actually makes it worse for most travelers (by providing a hangover the next day). Looking for opportunities to sleep (and things like white noise earphones, ear plugs, your own pillow or blanket--airlines are starting to charge for those now, blindfolds--all of these things can aid in sleep). Getting exercise during the flight (walking up and down the aisle, doing isometric exercises in your seat) is very good. Finally, if at all possible, wear comfortable clothing and shoes that are loose fitting, cozy and good to sleep in.
3. 3
Arrival. The sooner you start operating by the local schedule, the quicker to adjust and get rid of your jet lag. A critical factor biologically is sunlight. The ideal form of adjustment would be to get off your plane, check into your hotel, take a shower and change clothes, and then go out for a long walk in the sun. If you can't manage that (it's a cloudy day or it's too hot or cold to be outside) than go to bright lights--anything to help you begin the adjustments. Physical exercise is critical. Even though you might arrive feeling lousy, getting on a treadmill or taking a walk is important for the adjustment. It's very important to eat according to the time zone schedule. If you're famished (no food on the plane) and upon arrival the next local meal isn't scheduled for 4 hours, have a snack (ideally fruit or a complex carbohydrate, definitely not candy or sugar-based) to prevent you from crashing.
No comments:
Post a Comment