In this guest post, International Program Consultant Catie Martin gives time-honored advice for preventing and handling jet lag while on tour.
Anyone who knows me understands that I love two things: sleep & travel. However, they don’t really go together, do they?
Tired and happy at the Roman Forum.
When I travel, I normally go to visit friends and stay with them. My most frequent stop is Norway (random, I know). But, one of my best friends lives there and I visit her about every six months.
When she picks me up from the train station she knows that 1. I’m hungry and 2. I’m tired/jet-lagged. So, she just blocks that day off for leisurely activities, like sleeping, eating, and watching Netflix.
Is that the best way to beat jet-lag? Absolutely not. But it’s what I do when I’m with my friends.
Explorica trips do not include “leisure days,” and since I’m not the best person to give advice on what to do when you’re jet-lagged, I reached out to my trusty team of International Program Consultants to get some good advice for you.
Here are six tips for preventing jet lag while traveling:
- Do not take naps when you arrive! Try to stay up until at least 10pm local time to readjust to a normal sleep schedule. Remember to set an alarm.–Suzanne Swartz
- Drink tons of water, since the airplane can be a very dry place. Stay hydrated, my friends. –Meaghan Richards
- When you get on a plane, pretend like you’re already in your destination’s time zone. –Victoria Michaels
- Wake up early on your second day, and stay awake throughout the day. –Doug Cavers
- For long-haul flights wear compression socks. It reduces the swelling in your calves and ankles and will help you relax on your flight. –Me, I said this
- Don’t forget an eye mask. It will help block out the light on the plane so you can sleep. –Meaghan Richards
It’s no question that long-haul traveling takes a toll on your mind and body. But, I hope these pieces of advice from my friends and I will help you beat jet-lag and enjoy your trip. Do you have any other pieces of advice? If so, let us know on Twitter!