‘Naughty’ trick to get over jet lag if you’re travelling in this direction
Updated . First published
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It’s one of the downsides of flying long distances for a holiday (on top of the toll on your credit card) – jet lag. And experts have slightly different takes on how to deal with the dreaded condition.
There are tricks you can use to try and get over the jet lag that comes with fling across so many time zones. iStock
Science has already proven that ‘east is the beast, and west is best’ in terms of the direction you’re travelling.
That means heading east to the USA will hit Aussies harder than say, heading to the west, like Africa or Europe.
But if you’re off in that direction, there are tricks you can use to try and get over the exhaustion that comes with flying across so many time zones.
Dr Mike Gradisar, Head of Sleep Science at Sleep Cycle, shared one of his top jet lag tips to try and help in that situation.
And it may be the opposite of what you’re thinking, with some of the advice usually considered a big no when it comes to sleeping.
“If you’re travelling east, do all the naughty things: seek bright light in the evening, drink caffeine late, and avoid early morning light,” he said.
“And when you’re lying awake waiting for sleep, sometimes a low-stimulation activity like watching TV or listening to a podcast is a helpful bridge until your body clock catches up.”
Jet lag is the one downside of flying long distances. iStock
Those things are all going to help you contend with the loss of time your body is trying to deal with.
In one of the largest-ever studies on travel and sleep, scientists at the Centre of Sleep and Cognition at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in Singapore found sleep timing takes significantly longer to realign after travelling east.
This is because you are effectively ‘losing’ time.
Jet lag heading east to the USA will hit you harder than say, heading to the west, like Africa or Europe. iStock
Another expert, self-proclaimed Jet Lag Guy, Dr Steve Jasper is a former pharmacist who has become an expert in the condition.
He previously told nine.com.au that knowing your body type is also essential.
“Are you a morning person or a night owl?” Dr Steve asked, explaining you’re going to respond differently to jet lag depending. “I’m a night owl, I can fly to Europe, my last trip was Paris, and I’m good to go,” he said.
“The more of a night owl you are, the truer that is, if you’re a real morning person, it’s the other way around.”
As for the common dilemma, to nap or not to nap? It depends what time you land.
“A little nap might be okay, but I think the best thing is if you land, and it’s daytime, stay awake,” Dr Steve said.
