4 ms·

I regularly take long haul flights (12+ hours) and take Melatoin for Jet Lag. I'll take twice. With the flights I take this usually works out to before sleepin

I regularly take long haul flights (12+ hours) and take Melatoin for Jet Lag. I'll take twice. With the flights I take this usually works out to before sleeping on the plane (which ideally is the same/close to bed-time at the destination). And then the first night at the destination. In combination with other tricks -- I've found it really effective.

andy_ppp 8y ago
What are the other tricks, I’ve always found jet lag horrendous.
- alecco 8y ago
  Water fast for 13 to 16 hours before the time you want to wake up. And have a large breakfast right then. https://hbr.org/2009/05/a-fast-solution-to-jet-lag https://hbr.org/2009/05/a-fast-solution-to-jet-lag https://www.google.com/search?q=jet+lag+fast+hours https://www.google.com/search?q=jet+lag+fast+hours
- camillomiller 8y ago
  I also use Melatonin for jetlag, but I usually prefer to do it just for the first and second night at the destination. On 12+ hrs flight I prefer a bland sleeping aid, as it is not directly working on the circadian rhythm (or at least that’s my experience). Other useful tricks: - ban alcohol altogether the day of the flight an possibly one day before and one after - order a special vegan meal during the flight, even if you’re not vegan. They’ll serve you first and you’ll have more time to organize your sleeping schedule on board, plus you’ll stay more hydrated as the meal will usually include more veggies. - stay hydrated constantly, I’d dare say even over hydrated
  - philjohn 8y ago
    The vegan meal trick is airline specific. On BA for instance, if you're in premium economy or higher as long as you order your meal via their portal a few days before the flight they'll serve you first before offering what's left to everyone else.
- jwilliams 8y ago
  Some of these are probably very personal, but have worked for me. - I try to arrive in the AM, stay up all day, and walk around as much as possible. Ideally walk in the sun. By the end of the day I'm shattered and usually will sleep well. Often I'm traveling for work, so I'll head direct to the office and work to keep busy. That first day can be tough, but after a couple of dips you can power though. After that you're pretty well set. - I never nap (or even lie down) during the first day, that's always the thing that throws me off. - For the flight: I have earplugs, noise cancelling headphones, and a heavy-duty eye mask. On occasion I'll play something calm on the headphones, but often it's just unplugged. - I have one of these weird neck pillows - https://trtltravel.com/products/trtl-travel-pillow https://trtltravel.com/products/trtl-travel-pillow - works well for me as it stabilizes the head. If find the actual "pillows" don't really work. - I try to eat in (or close to) the target time-zone a day before. On the plane I'll eat for sure, but veer to something light. I find the full meals make me lethargic the next day. Definitely eat at the "right times" when you arrive. - I drink plenty of water, but I don't go crazy - I used to drink too much and my bladder would wake me up. I'll usually work out how much I want to/should drink (e.g.. two bottles) and then ration over the flight. - I do have a small wine and sleeping tablets on the plane. Realize that's not for everyone, however (and probably unwise for some). But seems to work for me.
- gotrecruit 8y ago
  my instant jet lag cure: 1. if i arrive early in the day, make sure i take as much coffee and/or energy drinks as possible to stay awake. then stop about 4 hours before planned bedtime. 2. once it's bedtime, or if i arrive at destination close to bedtime, if possible, i then smoke as much cannabis as is necessary to force me to go to sleep. whenever i travel somewhere with vastly different timezones, i do this two or three days in a row and i'm usually fixed.
philjohn 8y ago
Same here. I pop one as I get on the red eye flight back from the states to the UK, then once again half an hour before I go to bed at 10pm UK time, and the next day I'm back to normal. If anything, I find going the other way harder now as I have little energy until midweek.

andy_ppp 8y ago

What are the other tricks, I’ve always found jet lag horrendous.

alecco 8y ago
Water fast for 13 to 16 hours before the time you want to wake up. And have a large breakfast right then. https://hbr.org/2009/05/a-fast-solution-to-jet-lag https://hbr.org/2009/05/a-fast-solution-to-jet-lag https://www.google.com/search?q=jet+lag+fast+hours https://www.google.com/search?q=jet+lag+fast+hours
camillomiller 8y ago
I also use Melatonin for jetlag, but I usually prefer to do it just for the first and second night at the destination. On 12+ hrs flight I prefer a bland sleeping aid, as it is not directly working on the circadian rhythm (or at least that’s my experience). Other useful tricks: - ban alcohol altogether the day of the flight an possibly one day before and one after - order a special vegan meal during the flight, even if you’re not vegan. They’ll serve you first and you’ll have more time to organize your sleeping schedule on board, plus you’ll stay more hydrated as the meal will usually include more veggies. - stay hydrated constantly, I’d dare say even over hydrated
- philjohn 8y ago
  The vegan meal trick is airline specific. On BA for instance, if you're in premium economy or higher as long as you order your meal via their portal a few days before the flight they'll serve you first before offering what's left to everyone else.
jwilliams 8y ago
Some of these are probably very personal, but have worked for me. - I try to arrive in the AM, stay up all day, and walk around as much as possible. Ideally walk in the sun. By the end of the day I'm shattered and usually will sleep well. Often I'm traveling for work, so I'll head direct to the office and work to keep busy. That first day can be tough, but after a couple of dips you can power though. After that you're pretty well set. - I never nap (or even lie down) during the first day, that's always the thing that throws me off. - For the flight: I have earplugs, noise cancelling headphones, and a heavy-duty eye mask. On occasion I'll play something calm on the headphones, but often it's just unplugged. - I have one of these weird neck pillows - https://trtltravel.com/products/trtl-travel-pillow https://trtltravel.com/products/trtl-travel-pillow - works well for me as it stabilizes the head. If find the actual "pillows" don't really work. - I try to eat in (or close to) the target time-zone a day before. On the plane I'll eat for sure, but veer to something light. I find the full meals make me lethargic the next day. Definitely eat at the "right times" when you arrive. - I drink plenty of water, but I don't go crazy - I used to drink too much and my bladder would wake me up. I'll usually work out how much I want to/should drink (e.g.. two bottles) and then ration over the flight. - I do have a small wine and sleeping tablets on the plane. Realize that's not for everyone, however (and probably unwise for some). But seems to work for me.
gotrecruit 8y ago
my instant jet lag cure: 1. if i arrive early in the day, make sure i take as much coffee and/or energy drinks as possible to stay awake. then stop about 4 hours before planned bedtime. 2. once it's bedtime, or if i arrive at destination close to bedtime, if possible, i then smoke as much cannabis as is necessary to force me to go to sleep. whenever i travel somewhere with vastly different timezones, i do this two or three days in a row and i'm usually fixed.

philjohn 8y ago

Same here. I pop one as I get on the red eye flight back from the states to the UK, then once again half an hour before I go to bed at 10pm UK time, and the next day I'm back to normal. If anything, I find going the other way harder now as I have little energy until midweek.