April 4, 2017 |
business travel |
Randy Allen
Jet lag is the bane of anybody who flies between time zones. It’s bad enough when it happens to you during your vacation, but it can be even worse when it hits you during a business trip. While you might be able to find some time to relax once your plane lands, you still need to be at your best and most alert if you’re flying to an important business meeting.
While there is no way to completely avoid jet lag, there are plenty of things you can do to lessen its effects on you and keep it from sabotaging your business trip. Here are some to keep in mind.
Before Your Trip
Your battle against jet lag should begin before you even set foot on your plane. Spend last few days before your flight adjusting your sleeping and eating schedule to get your body used to the new time zone. If you’re traveling east, go to bed one hour earlier every night. If you’re going west, go to bed one hour later than your usual bedtime. This goes for meals as well. Those who are traveling east should eat dinner about an hour earlier than usual, while those who are traveling west should eat their meals an hour later than normal.
Adjusting your sleeping habits will also mean getting plenty of sleep before your flight. Being sleep deprived will just make your inevitable jet lag that much worse, so try to fall into a regular sleep schedule the week before your flight.
The Day of Your Flight
If it is at all possible, try to book an overnight flight. This will give you a chance to eat a regular dinner before you board your plane, and it will make it easier to sleep during your flight. If you cannot book a night flight, try to book a flight that gets you to your destination in the morning or early afternoon. The sunlight you will get when you arrive will help keep you awake.
If you wear a watch, change it to your new time zone when you get on your plane and before it takes off. This will give your body some time to adjust to the time change that might otherwise throw you off.
Finally, avoid alcohol and caffeine immediately before and during your flight. You’re supposed to be able to get plenty of sleep during this time, and neither caffeine or alcohol will help with that. And yes, contrary to popular belief, alcohol will disrupt your sleep.
Fighting Jet Lag At Your Destination
As we said before, you will experience some jet lag no matter what, and the best you can do is to lessen its effects. If you’ve traveled more than eight time zones, don’t spend any time outside right away; spend a few days indoors. If your trip was shorter than that, spend some time outside in natural sunlight once you land. Eat your meals according to the local time, and stick to a regular sleep schedule.
As a company that offers a Charlottesville airport shuttle service, we see a lot of instances of jet lag. It can be rough for business professionals who are always on the move, but these tips will help to keep you alert. To find out more about how you can combat jet lag or if you need a professional Charlottesville limo service, contact James Limousine today.
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