Many of us will be traveling this season to spend the holidays with family. Days of your trip can be lost to feeling tired and out of whack because of jet lag. I recently traveled overseas to visit my parents. Jet lag on an overseas trip can be horrendous, but if you follow a few tips you can minimize it.

Drink plenty of water

Dehydration exacerbates the jet lag. During your flight drink plenty of water. This is also important because the air on planes tends to be dry. You’ll probably have to ask for more drinks than are actually offered to you. Try to sit on an aisle. All that water will send you to the toilet a lot during your flight.

Sleep on the trip according to when you’ll arrive at your destination

If you’ll arrive at your destination in the morning, sleep on your flight. If you’ll arrive in the evening stay awake on the flight.

Stay on the schedule of your destination

Once you arrive try to get an appropriate time schedule. Eat meals and sleep at the right time.

Keep napping to a minimum

If you absolutely have to take a nap do so, but don’t nap for any longer than an hour. Try not to nap in the evening.

Exercise

Do some light exercise in the morning. This will help speed your body’s adjustment. Don’t push yourself too hard. That might backfire on you and make you feel even worse. Instead go for a nice walk or bike ride in the morning.

Get out in the sun

Exposing yourself to some sunshine during the morning hours will also help reset your body’s clock.

I just traveled from the UK to Florida to visit my parents for the holidays. Our travel time was very long, 16 hours including layovers. This is my first day in the country and I’m using these techniques. Jet lag usually knocks me out for the count, but right now I’m doing well. We’ll see how I feel by the afternoon.

Photo by Irargerich