Travel Tip Tuesday: Five Tips for Reducing Jet Lag

Posted on: Jul 22, 2008

travel tip tuesday1 Travel Tip Tuesday: Five Tips for Reducing Jet Lag

Imagine this.

You spend years saving for that once-of-a-lifetime intercontinental vacation. You spend months planning details, from tracking down the iciest mint mojitos, to the most exotic thatched-roof tiki huts, to the best, and most renowned, jungle tour of the water rapids. You spend weeks packing your suitcases and e-mailing your itinerary to everyone from your Grandpa John to your second cousin’s brother-in-law. You spend two days getting there. Then you can’t enjoy a dang thing because you can’t even entice your sleep-deprived self out of bed with the promise of a new pair of shoes or a round of golf.

What is wrong with you?

Is it pre post-vacation planning syndrome, commonly seen when obsessive-compulsive vacation planners finally arrive at said vacation spot and have no lists to make, travel forums to read or hotel reviews to compare, or is it simply a full-blown case of common ole’ jet lag?

Hmmm … I’d go with the jet lag.

Just so you know for sure here are five strategies I’ve developed over the years to help me reduce or, dare I say eliminate, jet lag.

1. The first thing I do when I get on the big bird for an international journey is get settled in. Seriously. I move in. I take out my book or magazine, my MP3 player, a bottle of water (that I bought post-security check), any over-the-counter pain medicine I might need, my neck pillow and eye mask and a bag of Haribo Hari gummy worms. Please don’t ask about the gummy worms, it is an addiction I can’t yet discuss.

2. The second thing I do is set my watch to my new time … then the mind games begin! I look at my watch more on a nine-hour international flight than I do an entire week when I am planted … the whole time telling myself, “Wow. It is really late. I should be hungry.” “Yikes. Look at that time. 2 AM. I should get some rest.” “It is 4:00 AM and they are serving chicken? Oh well … a middle of the night snack never hurt anyone!”

3. I know … I know … all the “theys” out there tell you to skip on the alcohol. Weenies! While I am not encouraging alcoholism here, a light weight like me can have her glass of wine and sleep well, too. After a glass with dinner, the dimmed lights of an overnight red-eye and two warm blankets (that I usually snag from an empty seat when no one is looking) I sleep like a baby. If that’s not your thing, pop a Tylenol PM sans red wine, and you’ll sleep, too. This tip is best utilized on overnight flights when you arrive at your destination in the morning.

Otherwise …

4. I *load* up on things to do to pass the time. I watch movies, listen to music, read a book or magazine, take travel notes or eat a bunch of gummy worms. Plan in advance and take things on board with you that will help pass the time. I once drafted half of a training guide on a flight from Amsterdam to Houston and on another flight I read a full book. Just recently I edited two articles for a magazine. By the time we touched down I wondered where the time had gone.

5. You may have heard this before, but whatever you do it is absoluetly imperative you do not go to sleep when you arrive at your new destination. Promise me … I want to hear you say it with me, “Cherrye … I promise I won’t sleep!”

Ok, then. You have to follow that clock on your arm (that has been set to your new time zone, remember?). If you arrive in the middle of day you may have to push yourself, go for a walk, go out for lunch, go shopping, do anything to make yourself stay awake until “normal” bedtime. This works for two reasons:

>> You are futher pushing yourself into your new time zone by living, sleeping and eating at normal times. (Yes, I said eating. Even if you aren’t hungry have a small salad or sandwich at your new “normal” hours and your body will adjust to the time more quickly.)
>> You are wearing yourself out so when you can finally sleep, you will sleep well and will awaken feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy your trip.

Admittedly, these aren’t rocket surgery or brain science ideas, but they work. I can’t remember the last time I had jet lag and I promise your jet lag will be reduced if you give these a whirl.

Whaddya say?

What are your favorite tips for avoiding jet lag? Care to share any secrets?

Be sure to visit Robin today for more tips and tricks on the travel industry!

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Tax on school supplies gets holiday.(Local)

The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA) April 11, 2006 Byline: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS BY CHRISTINA NUCKOLS THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT Dude, it’s a sales tax holiday. Cool. see here power supply calculator

Teenage customers at Virginia Beach’s Coastal Edge may not be wowed by a 5 percent tax break on school supplies and clothing, but owner D. Nachnani is sure their parents will be totally psyched.

The skate, surf and apparel shop sells tons of jeans, T-shirts and backpacks in late summer. This year, Nachnani expects a boost from a new law that creates a sales tax holiday for the first weekend in August.

The measure was signed into law Monday by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who has three children .

The tax break applies to school supplies such as dictionaries, notebooks, pens, and calculators valued at $20 or less per item. Clothing and footwear items priced at $100 or less each also qualify for the tax exemption.

State tax experts estimate that total consumer savings will be $3.6 million in the first three-day sales tax holiday this August.

Ten other states, including North Carolina and Tennessee, plus Washington, D.C., already have sales tax holidays planned for this year. Nachnani, who also owns a shop in North Carolina, said customers there organize their purchases around the dates .

“We definitely see a spike in sales during those days,” he said. “It makes a difference. Sales start right when the doors open.” Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, said he and other legislators introduced the measure to help working-class families and Virginia merchants near the North Carolina and Tennessee borders who had difficulty competing with stores in those states because of the tax breaks.

The tax holiday was among a number of measures Kaine announced action on Monday. He had until midnight to sign, veto or amend legislation passed by the General Assembly this year.

He proposed changes to a plan for the replacement of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind’s campus at Hampton.

The school is being consolidated with its sister campus in Staunton. The General Assembly passed legislation creating a regional program for multi-disabled children in Hampton Roads that would be operated by New Horizons Regional Education Center. The center operates schools for disabled children in Hampton and Newport News. this web site power supply calculator

Kaine’s amendment would let regional and state officials seek proposals from different organizations before awarding a contract.

The governor also signed legislation making it a misdemeanor to disrupt a funeral or memorial service, a response to protests at funerals of military servicemen and women killed in battle.

Kaine declined to sign a bill that sets up a referendum in November on a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions. The ballot measure will still be presented to voters this fall without the support of the governor, who has no power to veto proposed constitutional amendments.

Today, Kaine is expected to announce several vetoes, including one for a measure that would give the General Assembly the power to appoint nine of the 14 members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board. The governor now names all members to the board, which oversees spending on road construction in the state.

There was no progress Monday on the legislature’s two major tasks this year: the adoption of a state budget and a transportation plan. A handful of legislators met briefly to handle parliamentary matters. Delegates return today to vote on a budget proposal.

House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, blamed state senators for the lack of progress on budget negotiations.

“They’re the ones that are holding hostage the local governments, the school boards ,” he said. “This thing could be done this week.” Howell canceled a lunch appointment scheduled for Thursday with Kaine and Senate Finance Chairman John Chichester.

Howell spokesman Paul Nardo said the speaker previously had agreed to the meeting because he expected the legislature to be in Richmond that day. The General Assembly is now planning to break on Wednesday, and Nardo said Howell has estate tax cases to handle for his law practice.

“He wasn’t going to make a special trip down here just to do that,” Nardo said of the lunch.

Nardo said the speaker is willing to reschedule a meeting but added that Howell wants all 11 budget negotiators to participate.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY n Reach Christina Nuckols at (804) 697-1562 or christina. nuckols@pilotonline.com.

Category: Travel Tips

Tagged: Travel Tip Tuesday

Angie says:

July 22, 2008 at 4:26 pm

I’ve done basically the same things as you for years and have always felt fabulous once I arrived in Europe. It’s been fairly easy though, since I have no trouble sleeping through and entire flight. However, I noticed the last few years that I’ve had more problems with jet lag coming home. It’s made especially worse because usually we are laying over on the East Coast (we are in Colorado) so I would be exhausted by the time I got home and it would take me weeks to recover. I would just be exhausted every day at 3:00 p.m. So, this past May, after a two week trip to Italy in which I had completely adjusted to their time, I decided to apply my tactics on the return trip. It’s much harder to make yourself sleep when you’re leaving at 11:00 a.m. in the morning and arriving late afternoon so, I had lunch then took my sleep aid…slept like a baby all the way from Rome to Washington, DC…had set my clock on Colorado time. Slept again on that fairly long haul from DC to CO…perfect!!!! No signs of jet lag the following week at all! For me, sleep is the most important part.

[Reply]

LuLu says:

July 22, 2008 at 5:19 pm

Awesome tips Cherrye!! My last flight to Italy was a bit frustrating….the whole plane was asleep except for me. For whatever reason I can’t sleep on planes. I’ve been told that taking a Benadryl (or any other sinus/allergy medication) will help get you to sleep. Haven’t tried it myself though.

erin :: the olive notes says:

July 22, 2008 at 6:05 pm

I love that Haribo gummies made the jet lag tips Those things are great.

almostgotit says:

July 22, 2008 at 8:17 pm

My husband swears by melatonin tablets. Melatonin is a hormone in your body that regulates sleep.

Benadryl is another trick… it’s an antihistimine, but will also make you sleepy. Either use it to help you sleep on the plane.

Or (my trick) be too hyped up with all the last-minute stuff that you don’t sleep the night before you leave NOR on the plane. By the appropriate bed time in your new location, your poor body will be so exhausted it will very happily slip into the new time zone, if it gets to SLEEP first!

Alisa says:

July 22, 2008 at 11:45 pm

I was just about to mention melatonin, too! I always sleep on planes (I can barely stay awake sometimes), so I often can’t get to sleep when it’s bedtime in the new time zone. A couple of melatonins and I can almost always ease off without any grogginess in the morning. It’s sold with the vitamins, it’s all natural, and it’s great!

Brandi says:

July 23, 2008 at 3:31 am

Love the tips! I also have an affinity for gummy worms, but I like the sour ones.

Hope your stay has been wonderful stateside. Mom enjoyed her visit and I think Madeleine did too.

michelle of bleeding espresso says:

July 24, 2008 at 6:40 pm

Excellent tips. Love playing the game of “Why how strange that they want us to eat at THIS hour!” Oh the tricks we play on ourselves

j says:

July 28, 2008 at 3:31 pm

This works: http://www.antijetlagdiet.com/faqs.asp#how

Of course you still feel tired because you didn’t sleep on the plane, but who can sleep on a plane?

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September 24, 2008 at 11:30 am

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cathy fisher says:

January 4, 2009 at 12:17 am

You’ve made some very good points here. If you’re traveling then you might want to get one of these. I’ve tried many a travel pillow during my years in the skies. I have finally found one that is as comfortable as my pillow on my bed. It has a satin pillowcase, so my hair doesn’t get stuck in one spot while I’m sleeping on the plane or when I have a flight delay and I nap in the airport. I don’t get off the flight with the “bed head” look. I can go to a meeting or lunch with clients and my hair looks great. The pillow itself is designed to feel like down and it’s hypoallergenic. Both the satin pillowcase and the pillow are completely washable. When I’m home I throw it on the sofa and use it as a nap pillow. Now I won’t travel without it. I wound up getting satin pillowcases to take with me to use in my hotel room. The company I purchased the travel pillow from is
A Touch Of Satin. Their website is http://www.atouchofsatin.com if you’re interested. They had a great selection to choose from and they had some really cute ones for kids. If you do any flying at all, or even take car trips, this travel pillow is a must to take with you.

Thanks for the tip. I’m in the market for a new travel pillow, too!

How to Spend Your First Day of Vacation | My Bella Vita says:

May 5, 2012 at 12:22 pm

[...] and eight-hour time change. Is it jet lag? Uhm … I don’t know. You might have read this post and learned how to handle that. Maybe it is stress and exhaustion? Before your trip has even [...]