Whether you’re traveling coast to coast or around the world, any time you change more than a few time zones you are susceptible to jet lag. It can leave you feeling tired and cranky, and that can impact your trip. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent jet lag.
Travel Off Path talked to a former NASA astronaut for tips on how to avoid suffering from jet lag, even when you’re seeing the sunset or sunrise every 45 minutes in space.
First, you need to understand what causes jet lag. In a nutshell, our body has an internal clock, also known as a circadian rhythm, which sends signals to the body about when to stay awake and when to go to sleep. When you move through different time zones, your circadian rhythm becomes disrupted.
These signals are highly sensitive to light. When the sun begins to rise and set at a different time from what you’re used to, it disrupts the signals for when to wake up and when to go to sleep — resulting in jet lag. The symptoms, namely severe fatigue, can last days (or longer).
The astronaut — and travel experts — say you can reset your circadian rhythm by controlling when you see light and when you see darkness. There’s even an app to help you do just that!
Some of the other tricks include avoiding caffeine, wearing a sleep mask, and not using digital devices during what is supposed to be your “dark time.”
Do you tend to suffer from jet lag when you travel? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you do to try to combat its symptoms.
