Jet lag is a beast. Â And as someone who flies halfway around the world on a regular basis, I’ve succumbed to the random hours of sleep, the restlessness, and the adjustment to a new time zone over a few days.
And then I got over it. Â My hectic travel schedule isn’t going to ease up anytime soon, so I had to find out how to kick jet lag fast.
Here’s how to get over jet lag fast:
- Sleep or rest on the plane. Â Make sure you’re mind is shut off and get some much-needed rest. Â Listen to some chill music to drown out the sounds of the plane, pop an Ambien if you must, and get some rest. Â I bring my own neck pillow and a pashmina to double as a blanket for long flights, and they make the trip MUCH more comfortable.
- Get on local time ASAP. Â I land in India at midnight and go straight to bed once I get to the apartment (usually with help of an Ambien, but I only allow myself the sleep pill on my first night). Â I land in the States in the evening and go for a workout once I get home. Â The exercise stretches out my stiff joints and helps me sleep better.
- Get back on your schedule immediately. Â Unless you’re on vacation and have the liberty of sleeping in until noon, you should wake up at the time you normally do, go through your regular morning routine, and get started on your day. Â An early start and busy day will usually result in exhaustion and a great night’s sleep (sans pharmaceuticals) by the end of the day.
- Exercise. Â To me, there is no better way to maintain a schedule than working out. Â A yoga towel, jump rope, and some DVDs barely take any room in your suitcase and a short 30 minutes is all you need to feel refreshed.
After wedding hall touring all day and a Tracy Anderson mat and treadmill workout this evening, I am ready to finish this homework assignment and hit the sack. Â An 8 a.m. conference call and wedding hall touring #2 are what’s in store for tomorrow.
