Jet Lag Tips and Tricks

[AustinTink]

My flight to London is direct and we booked some catagory, not sure what it’s called, on British airways that gives us extra seat recline, wider seats, etc. so I’m hoping to sleep. We fly overnight.

It’s called World Traveller Plus. We did that last time we flew British Airways to London. It was a very nice seat and the cabin is quiet. But I still didn’t sleep.

 

[AustinTink]

After coming back from Japan to NYC, it took me a month--no kidding--to readjust.

A month!!! Oh my word.

 

[AustinTink]

Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and sodas. I take Benedryl to help me sleep since Melatonin gives me horribly vivid dreams. If you plan to take Melatonin or Benadryl to help you sleep try them before the flight if you haven't before to see if you tolerate them.

This is what I’m thinking. Maybe just a baby dose of Benedryl. Not enough to really make me loopy.

I drink at least a gallon of water a day. It will be hard to refuse a glass of wine at the airport before our flight but I will do so.

 

[AustinTink]

Morning arrival - once you get to hotel room, take a nap. Only 1-1.5 hours. Force yourself to get up, and wow is it difficult when that bed is comfy, but you have too or you’ll never adjust! Stay up as long as you can.

We get in very early in the morning. I can’t see that our room will be ready at that hour, but a nap would be great.

 

[kyton]

Just keep powering on is my only advice! Two benadryl capsules taken on the runway will give you a few hours sleep - this was recommended by an anaesthetist to my husband, who as you know Tink, is doing this trip monthly!

Coming over you “lose“ a day which can add to confusion but you “gain” it back when you go home.

I think you’ll be fine when you arrive here - the excitement will keep you going but on your trip home schedule a couple of days of nothing as that’s when it usually hits us.

 

[Miffy]

A month!!! Oh my word.

Part of the readjustment was how dull I found NYC after being in Tokyo. For those of you who think NYC is crowded and a sensory-overload experience, try Tokyo. NYC looks like nothing in comparison. I missed the energy and visual excitement of Tokyo. That was a great trip and I'm very sorry I didn't go to Tokyo Disney while I was there since I'm not sure I'll ever be back.

 

[Disneypeach]

I have used the Jet Lag Rooster program at https://sleepopolis.com/calculators/jet-lag/
input your info and it will guide you thru adjusting your sleep pattern to prepare for the time changes. I found it helpful because I don’t have to do any of the “figuring”.

 

[fly girl]

We get in very early in the morning. I can’t see that our room will be ready at that hour, but a nap would be great.

Maybe have breakfast and see if you can do early check in? If you find you absolutely need a nap (it is tough) -- imho, don't let it be longer than 1 hour if it is after 1pm.

 

[DisneyTarheel]

I’ve had good luck adjusting quickly using melatonin. Take it when you go to bed local time the first night and it seems to help “reset’ my sleep clock to the local schedule.

 

[dvcgirl67]

This is our plan. Hit the ground running and walk all day.

Yup....this is the only thing that ever works for us is to push through that first day. We have a long flight coming up....I think maybe our longest....11 hours from Newark to Honolulu. We are flying business with lie-flat seats, but it's a day flight. Still, hoping to nap a bit. We'll be a bit tired, but will fight to stay up and get back on track.

 

[AustinTink]

Just keep powering on is my only advice! Two benadryl capsules taken on the runway will give you a few hours sleep - this was recommended by an anaesthetist to my husband, who as you know Tink, is doing this trip monthly!

Coming over you “lose“ a day which can add to confusion but you “gain” it back when you go home.

I think you’ll be fine when you arrive here - the excitement will keep you going but on your trip home schedule a couple of days of nothing as that’s when it usually hits us.

Looks like Benadryl it shall be. I’m so excited to visit your country. Totally worth the jet lag!

 

[kymom99]

It’s called World Traveller Plus. We did that last time we flew British Airways to London. It was a very nice seat and the cabin is quiet. But I still didn’t sleep.

It’s premium economy

 

[dvcgirl67]

Where are you headed AustinTink? I may have missed it in the thread.

 

[mousefan73]

I fly very often transatlantic. When you’re flying westbound from Europe to the US, it’s important that you just simply stay up and go to bed US time. Try and take a nap on the flight. Most likely you’ll still wake up in the middle of the night around 4 AM, Wideawake. I usually use this time to unpack.

Going eastbound from the US to the EU. It really depends. My recommendation is if you get a flight that lands super early in the morning and you’re already at your final destination. If you have a bed available, go lay down. And take a super long nap. When I land back in Frankfurt, I’m home by 9 AM I’ll go straight to bed and I’ll sleep until 2 PM and then I feel for fresh and have a real day. Many people say don’t lie down and push yourself through but be honest you’re just in tired/ hazy mode. Unless you’re the type that takes a late flight out of the US and you sleep the whole flight and feel refreshed that’s different.

I disagree when people say don’t lie down trying to adjust local time zones. Sometimes taking a super power nap simply makes you more functional. Would you rather walk about like a zombie or enjoy the day?

 

[Gracedis1]

Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and sodas. I take Benedryl to help me sleep since Melatonin gives me horribly vivid dreams. If you plan to take Melatonin or Benadryl to help you sleep try them before the flight if you haven't before to see if you tolerate them.

I thought I was the only one who had bad dreams with Melatonin!

When my husband and I went to Rome for a week we never really adjusted to the new time. We took a nap on day 1 then stayed up late and slept in for the week. We just explored the city on our own so didn't have any tours or anything we had to get to at a certain time. The city is really beautiful at night and people eat dinner late anyway.

 

[Imzadi]

Looks like Benadryl it shall be. I’m so excited to visit your country. Totally worth the jet lag!

Benadryl will really dry you out, which is it's main purpose. That can be bad during the already dry, re-circulated air during the flight. Drink plenty of water, but that means you will have to get up to pee a lot.

 

[AustinTink]

Benadryl will really dry you out, which is it's main purpose. That can be bad during the already dry, re-circulated air during the flight. Drink plenty of water, but that means you will have to get up to pee a lot.

Yes, that has me a bit worried. The humidity levels on airplanes are around 20%. Drier than the Sahara!

 

[Psymonds]

I have used the Jet Lag Rooster program at https://sleepopolis.com/calculators/jet-lag/
input your info and it will guide you thru adjusting your sleep pattern to prepare for the time changes. I found it helpful because I don’t have to do any of the “figuring”.

just put this in for our trip. Adjusting not just to east coast but early mornings for early park trips will be important. and 6 year olds don't do sudden adjustments.