Travelling across several time zones causes temporary disruptions to body rhythms which is known as jet lag. The body clock will be interrupted and temporarily will be out of synchronization with the destination time.  Flying east causes sleep disturbance or troubles falling asleep while flying west causes early awakening, disturbed sleep with multiple awakenings. The body’s natural pattern becomes upset as it experiences contrary to which it has grown accustomed like time for eating and sleeping. 

Most travelers who passed by different time zones experience jet lag are irritable and go through problems of increased fatigue, headaches and other cognitive effects. Jet lag usually leaves our system after several days or within a week’s time. Dealing with it is not as easy as 1-2-3 for the body rhythm needs again to adjust to its normal pattern.

There have been several suggestions by those who frequently travel and one of which is by using portable light box. Our body clock depends on the amount of light that its environment is giving. Morning light allows a person to wake up immediately while evening light demands you to sleep. Others take medicines like Melatonin to get the accustomed sleeping time

Before you engage into any change-of-time-zone trips, make sure to search about your destination’s weather, amount of sunlight it receives and most importantly, the amount time that you need to subtract or add from your place of origin.

When selecting an international flight, try to arrange an early evening arrival in destination place.

If you are traveling east, try to sleep and wake up a few hours earlier several days before your flight. Whilst when traveling west, go to bed and wake up later than your usual wake up time can help your body clock start to adjust to the upcoming time change.

Upon arriving the place of destination, spend as much time outdoors in the sunlight as possible during the day to help reset internal clock and lessen the symptoms of jet lag. Bedtime should be postponed until at least 10 P.M., with no daytime naps.

It isn’t going to be easy but if you stick with your jet lag plan, it can be assured that you will enjoying your trip fully.