Help overcoming jet lag

[Sharon/Mark]

We need help, this is our sixth trip in six years and yet we still can't seem to get passed the overwelming tiredness which means we normally end up 'hitting the sack' at around 8.30/9.00 this has meant we have missed a lot of the evening entertainment. I have tried all of the tips such as change your watch to US time the moment you get on your flight, we have aromatherapy oils, we have showered, drank plenty of water......and yet we still suffer, does anyone have any helpful advice - it would be so gratefully received........Thank you
dumbo:

 

[Groovee]

We normally try to go to bed normal hours the first night. Then we get up early having some brekkie and just chilling. Then at afternoon we rest and sleep if we can before hitting the parks at night. We have a rest day every second day too. The only time I feel tired is the first day and that's it.

 

[carolfoy]

I guess thats about it for jet lag advice - really, some people seem to suffer more than others, just try and adjust as quickly as possible, take a few afternoon naps as well to make the day last longer (although thats a difficult one too as you'll still be wanting afternoon naps when you get home )

 

[Sharon/Mark]

Thanks guys! I think naps it will be

 

[Twilight Terror]

I don't think we've ever really suffered from it, apart from maybe on the day we arrive, given we've nearly been up for 20hrs by the time you get to Orlando. What I always do, and I seem to find this helps get things in perspective for the day, is the morning of the flight, as soon as I get up, I start converting the time to FL time. So, while I'm getting up at 6am GMT, I tell myself I'm getting up at 1am, and just keep on like that all morning until I reach the airport. Once we've checked in the luggage, I then change my watch, way before we actually get on the plane, and start cementing it into my head that it's whatever time it is in Orlando.

That seems to help a little, and also sleeping on the plane. I always find that when I sleep on planes I do that little sleep where when you wake up, you have no idea how much time has past; it could be 5-mins, it could be an hour, but you just don't know. At which point, you can look at your watch, see the FL time and that also helps to start fixing it into your brain.

I don't bother on the way back, mainly cos I'm not bother about making the most of the day when I arrive home! But because of the flight times, it's much easier on the way home to just sleep as though you were going to bed and when you wake up, your in the UK and it's 9am anyway and away you go!

 

[wicket2005]

I don't have a problem with tiredness going to Orlando at all, we just hit the parks straightaway and go to bed Florida time at about 11 pm which means we have been up a full 24 hours. I think the excitement of being there just keeps us going.

Coming home is a whole different matter though, we sleep all over the place and takes us about a week to get back in the swing of things.


All I can suggest is a nap in the afternoon when it is really hot then hopefully you will be able to be out a bit longer.

 

[jen_uk]

We have a nap in the afternoon and then go back to the parks in the eve, this always works for us.

 

[Rascal1003]

I find that you just need to keep busy for as long as possible when you arrive.
Even if you feel absolutely shattered, don't give in, go for a stroll somewhere exciting, which will give you the holiday buzz.
Hold out until 10pm if you can, then you will sleep like a baby. Don't feel that you must get up at the crack of dawn to be the first into the parks.....instead, have a leisurely breakfast and go to a more chilled park like Epcot on day 1.
You can get to Epcot a bit later, maybe 10 or 11am and just enjoy the atmosphere and the long walk around the lake.
Back to the hotel for about 4 or 5pm, shower and change into evening-wear and off to dinner. Take a stroll after you have eaten and bed at your regular time. By day 2, you should have the hang of it.

That might help !

 

[Deedee]

We don't usually get it going out but when we get back thats a different story i could fall asleep on a clothes line.

 

[ColUK]

I would agree with everyone saying keep active when you get there. Personally I think the worst thing you can do is sleep, if you are not careful you will sleep for a few hours and this will completely mess your body clock up. Last time I was in Orlando an English family were on the I ride talking about how tired they were even 2 days after arrival, they put this down to falling asleep on arrival and waking up about 9pm and then not being able to sleep at night of course.
To me the most important thing is to try go to bed at about the usual time you would at home and hopefully you will get a good nights sleep. I have also used this method with good success on the west coast which at 8 hours is even worse.

PS try not to think of the time back home as well.

 

[lorapinky]

I have been lucky as everytime I get to WDW I am so excited I just have to run to the parks and I totally forget about jet lag!

I would say if you can I would take a couple of 'rest' days so that your body can catch up with the time change and all the walking that you will be doing then that would be good.

Have a fab time

 

[wifey]

We don't seem to get it on the way out but when we return too! It all really depends on the timing of our flights and if we get delayed or not!! It seems to help if we have a couple of days free of the parks when we're there and on our return we go straight to bed for 3-4 hours and get back up for a few hours and then get to bed at our normal time of night. This seems to help a great deal but it's good to have another couple of days off work just to catch up with our r'n'r Did read a while ago about wearing sunglasses for a couple of days after coming home helps your brain to re-adjust it may be worth trying

 

[misskrystal]

I found that the best way to combat jet lag is to get yourself on your new schedule as quickly as possible and, for us, that means going to bed at the time we would hope to go to bed for the rest of the week.

Last year we were dragging ourselves around the Florida Mall at 9pm on our first night. We were completely exhausted, but we fell asleep as soon as we went to bed. We woke up at 6.30 the following morning and each morning after that.

At home, we'll sleep until noon if we're not working, so it was great for us to be on a completely different schedule and for us to be able to get to the parks before 9 every day.

 

[freckles and boo]

Have you checked into over-the-counter melatonin? I realize that many people don't like taking supplements (me included) and I don't even know if it is available in the UK. My husband travels very frequently and he found that it does help him minimize jet lag. There is apparently some sort of regimen to follow before travel but I don't actually know what it is. I am sure you could easily search "melatonin" and "jet lag" for more info.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Have you checked into over-the-counter melatonin? I realize that many people don't like taking supplements (me included) and I don't even know if it is available in the UK. My husband travels very frequently and he found that it does help him minimize jet lag. There is apparently some sort of regimen to follow before travel but I don't actually know what it is. I am sure you could easily search "melatonin" and "jet lag" for more info.

Yes, we use melatonin too. As far as I am aware it is still not available in the UK, but it is available in the US (often at airports or am sure you could get it at any pharmacy). Tends to be sold in big bottles of 250/500!

We tend to NOT use it on the way out (early mornings and earlyish - 9.30/10pm tend to suit us...), but do use it when we get home. It just helps to "kick your sleep cycles back into the right rhythm"...

http://www.melatonin.com/ seems to be a pretty good resource...

Boo

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

What works really weel for me is i just dont look at the time! I dont wear a watch so i dont keep checking the time and just go with the flow, when it starts to get dark i start to remind myself i can feel tierd now, then have a good nights sleep and get up and going the next day (noramlly about 5.30 -6.00am) give it a couple of days and i will be having a little lye in until about 7.30!!!. I'm sure it wont work for everyone but worked really well for me!!!

 

[richard_andmel]

Hi. I have to agree with the people who said they don't tend to get it much on the way there, it's going home it kills me.

I am originally from the states and have been to WDW many times when I lived there. I come from Maine, so it's as big climate change going to Florida, as it is when you go from the UK.

The first trip I took as an adult my bf & I who were night owls could not figure out why we were so exhausted each night and couldn't stay awake past 11. Then we realized for one thing, not being hat people we weren't wearing hats and we were getting too much sun on our scalps. (Yes even through my thick hair.) We started wearing hats whenever we were out in the sun and a day later we had loads more energy.

In subsequent trips I have added in an afternoon down time that requires cooling down and resting for at least 3 hours. This now allows us to burn the candle at both ends so to speak. I know this makes a difference since I have been travelling from the UK, because when I go home to Maine I don't do the nap thing and for the first few days I am asleep quite a bit earlier than I would be at home.

Remember the sun in Florida is a lot stronger than what you are used to. And the heat and humidity are too. Drinking at least 3 litres of water a day is a must for me when I am in Florida. Nothing makes you feel tired and yucky like a bit of dehydration. (And I mean water, not soda or juice or squash.) I limit the amount of sugary drinks and things with caffeine as well because they are diuretics. I don't want to be on holiday.


Hope this helps.

Mel