Whether you’re holidaying somewhere delicious, or away for a work trip with only a concrete view to look at, being in a different time zone can wreak havoc on your normal sleep pattern, leaving you lethargic, irritable and headachy – typical symptoms of jet lag.
On average, most people need about seven to eight hours’ sleep each night, although some function on less. A good night’s sleep should leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead, but even people who sleep soundly at home can be subject to sleep disruption when travelling”, says Dr Gary Bolger, AXA PPP’s chief medical officer.
Have you noticed that when you have a good night’s sleep, you feel refreshed, positive and able to cope with things better? So what is jet lag? When you’re travelling by plane and crossing into different time zones, your body’s normal circadian rhythm – your body clock – is disrupted. Your biological clock is programmed to know when it’s morning and evening, so you get a sense of when to feel hungry and when to go to sleep. Being in a different time zone upsets this and it can take several days, or longer, to adjust. Sleep is essential to good mental wellbeing. If you don’t get enough sleep, you can feel moody and irritable – and over time this is likely to affect your relationships with people, your work and your mental wellbeing”, says Dr Gary Bolger. Anyone can be affected by jet lag, even frequent flyers, but there are practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of it occurring.
Reducing the risk of jet lag before you travel
“If you want to minimise jet lag, start preparing before you set off,” explains Dr Gary Bolger; “try and get some rest before your trip.” It’s not uncommon to feel stressed before a holiday but try and remain as calm as possible, as stress can affect sleep. It may be tempting to take sleeping tablets for a long haul flight but they can reduce your level of movement and may increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis or DVT,” adds Dr Bolger.
How to get over jet lag
Sleeping throughout the journey may make time go faster for you but your body clock is unlikely to react so well. If you’re keen to reduce jet lag and improve your ability to sleep when you arrive, we suggest: avoiding eating too much or drinking alcohol, as both can cause drowsiness and alcohol causes dehydration; cutting down on caffeine consumption; drink other fluids and water to keep hydrated; remaining active, especially on long flights; stretch your legs and arms and move around whenever possible; altering your watch at the start of the flight, so you can begin adjusting to the new time zone; getting some sleep if it’s already night at your destination and use an eye mask and earplugs to block out light and noise; otherwise, try and stay awake so you can sleep at the proper time when you arrive. On arrival, get into the local routine as soon as possible (e.g. if it’s breakfast time, eat breakfast). Spend time outside during the day – the natural light helps your body clock adjust. If you’re travelling for four days or less, aim to stay on ‘home time’ wherever possible, eating and sleeping at the same time as you would at home.
