3 Simple Steps to Avoiding Jet Lag

Travelling to a new country is exciting. The last thing anyone wants to do is spend the first few days of their trip struggling to adjust to their new time zone. Long haul travel can be especially hard to quickly adapt. Seats are small and uncomfortable. The person in 28A wants to get out and use the bathroom every 2 hours when you’re trying to get some sleep. If you’re like me, finances do not allow for a luxury first class seat on transoceanic flights (unless by God's graces I’ve managed to get an upgrade).

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After a lot of trial and error, so much error, I have finally found the solution to jet lag. I now have it down to a routine science. In the past, I would go a few days without sleeping, down a couple sleeping pills, and pray for the best. This NEVER worked for me. Relaxing in an economy seat when you’re 5’10” is not the easiest task. Over years of travelling, I've slowly started to find ways to make the trip less miserable.

STEP 1: Stay Awake!

This may seem entirely counter-productive, but it’s not! It’s important to check the time zone you’re flying into and sync your body to that time. One of the biggest struggles I have is ensuring I stay awake during the first 4 hours of the flight. Most of my trips from Australia to the US leave around midnight. I’m usually pretty dang tired by then. But I have to stay awake so that I sleep during the time zone appropriate hours. There’s a couple of ways I do this:

1. Watch a movie or a tv show.

2. Write a blog post or edit photos.

3. Aeroplane spa day (See Step 2).

4. Wait for the food because wine...duh!

All these things help keep me awake a little while longer and make sleep slightly more magical.

STEP 2: Spa de Aeroplane

Call me crazy. Give me all the dirty looks you like. But I WILL make the most out of my 14-hour hell on an airplane. This means taking care of myself. I don’t know about you, but my skin gets wrecked on a plane. I will walk off the plane with more cracks than a dried up lake bed. It’s not cute and makes me look exhausted even if I’m well rested.

So I created Spa de Aeroplane. TREAT YO SELF! I always bring: an essential oil (my current favourite is this fantastic good sleep blend), a face mask, and ultra-hydrating skin cream. I love putting the essential oil in a pair of moisturising socks and letting my feet heal and my body detox throughout the flight. Such heaven! Also….drink heaps of water!!!

Treat Yo Self Plane Edition!

STEP 3: The Vitamin Kick

I’ve literally tried everything under the sun. Not sleeping, melatonin, sleeping pills, anti-anxiety pills, etc. and NOTHING worked for me! NOTHING! I had seriously begun to accept the fact that jet lag would be a major part of any holiday.

I found a few ways to help combat jetlag utilising vitamins! First, it is beyond important that you stay hydrated. Flying sucks a lot of moisture out of your skin and dehydrates you. Dehydration is a surefire way to experience jetlag. I always travel with Hydraltye or Nuun as they come in a convienent little tub that I don't need to worry about surrendering when going through security.

Second, I always try to travel with either a strong multivitamin or a B-Complex vitamin. This helps to ensure my body is functioning throughout the day. If I absolutely need it, I'll sneek an endurance gel. I normally save these for my Spartan races but sometimes you just need the extra kick to keep going.

It may not be the most luxurious sleep or spa day but I swear, it helps so much! I used to be super self-conscious of the looks I would get when I put the face mask on. Now, I couldn’t care less. 14 hours in economy is never a picnic so why should I care what others think if I’m making those 14 hours a little less miserable?  I’ve used this method quite a few times, and every time I get to enjoy the most of my holiday. Give it a go the next time you travel overseas and let me know if it works for you!

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Do you have other methods of kicking jet lag? Share them below!

And until next time...

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