You may not realize how powerful the time zone tiredness can be. Our bodies are naturally programmed to do all kinds of activity in 24 hours which create routines like eating and sleeping, called circadian rhythm. But when we travel to a place with different time zone, our circadian rhythm becomes disrupted and that leads to a range of symptoms which include extreme tiredness, loss of appetite, indigestion problems, and difficulty concentrating.
Post-holiday blues are real, and jet lag makes it worse. Here are some tips for minimizing the occurrence of jet lag and getting back to your daily routine, all while restoring you circadian rhythm.
You know that it will take you a few days to be back in a normal groove, so take it as easy as possible. Do things that make you happy and your body relax. Go for a slow walk, take a bubble bath, cozy up yourself and watch a movie.
Avoid coffee and other caffeine-heavy beverages such as cola and energy drinks. Caffeine has artificial stimulants which will affect your ability to sleep and increase jet lag recovery time. Also, caffeine dehydrates you, whereas your body functions best when it’s hydrated. So opt for only water (and lots of it!) to reduce the effects of jet lag.
Calorie deficit will make jet lag even worse. Eat small meals frequently with lots of healthy food and avoid sugar as much as you can.
No matter how tire you are, you’ve got to stay awake if it’s not bed time. This will help your body get used to the new time zone as quickly as possible.
Expose yourself to bright daylight to get your circadian rhythm back on track. It’s one of the scientifically-proven ways for beating jet lag.
We understand that exercise may be the last thing you want to do in the midst of jet lag. But exercising can boost your endorphins, help reset your body clock while reducing the symptoms of jet lag.
Take a cold shower in the evening, and a warm shower in the morning. The release of melatonin, the sleep regulation hormone, can be triggered by temperature changes in the body.
Stop checking your phone when it’s bed time! Looking at your phone during the night wires your brain up, especially if you’re not really tired. Turn it off so you can have a peaceful, deep sleep.
So, instead of being sad over the end of your vacation and being miserable over the jet lag, with a little preparation and know-how, you can beat the holiday jet lag. Those simple tips hopefully will keep you from feeling like a sad zombie after you’re holiday’s over.
SweetEscape is online platform that connects you with local photographers around the world. Our mission is to capture your life precious moments, anywhere in the world. SweetEscape is available in over 400 cities around the world. Get the SweetEscape experience. Enter the code FIRSTESCAPE at checkout.