Feeling jet lagged - recommendations

[Irishgirl]

Anyone have some recommendations on how to get your body clock back in sync without snoring during conference calls and meetings the next day.

And part two...has anyone experienced any swelling of their ankles after long periods of travel?


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[eddief]

no recs.

[Clancy]

Swelling of the ankles, no. I always use knee hi compression socks. Might try that next time.

I use melatonin to get to sleep on the sleep cycle of where I land to get in sync with that time clock. Helps quite a bit

[Hellgate]

I fly from Dallas to Seoul once a quarter or so. My feet swell about one full size. I've found that avoiding caffeine, salty food, and alcohol help. I bring water and drink like a fish. Instead of compression socks, I go the opposite way, loose fitting socks and slippers. I've found the compression socks very uncomfortable, and 14 hours + in them is brutal. When I get in at 5 pm, I go to the gym, eat and try to sleep. The next morning I hit the caffeine, and hard.

It seems to work.

[zzy]

modafinil

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by zzy

modafinil

Maybe. Or you overshoot and prolong your period off your normal sleep cycle.

Also, docs prescribe that for jet lag?

[paredown]

I can't find the same version of the article where the information is in table form, but I'm sure this is the same author and content--the idea is to take small doses of melatonin, in combination with ensuring that you get daylight at the right times.

It doesn't eliminate jet lag, and not all people find it helpful, but my wife and I swear by it:

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/30/u...sultPosition=4

[saab2000]

My advice as a professional in the travel industry?

When your body says to sleep, sleep. There is no magic. Listen to your body.

[mj_michigan]

My approach is to stay in the sun at the right time -- morning in Europe, late afternoon in US. Works fine in the summer, not so much in the winter.

[slowpoke]

Echoing others, take at least one day off.. and avoid caffeine in the afternoons (unless it does nothing for you anyway).

As I've gotten older, the first day is alright because it's an act of sheer will, but late on day 2 or 3, it really hits me hard because the sleep deprivation catches up. Melatonin may help you sleep at night, but dosage is important. Most pills have too much melatonin, which doesn't make folks sleep well. Try starting at 2.5mg for a night and move up the next night if it's not helpful (feel free to break up the pill).

Swelling of ankles sounds like you weren't moving for long periods of time. Compression socks should help, but you should also be the weird person that stretches near the bathroom (and we should stop thinking that's weird). Maybe also lay in bed and put your feet up until the blood drains and they feel a bit tingly.

[Irishgirl]

Thanks all for the recommendations....


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[ultraman6970]

Go to sleep!

[johnmdesigner]

It depends on the time difference and the frequency of travel.
Best thing to do is get back to your regular routine immediately.
Stay up first night until usual bedtime by all means possible.
Don't make important decisions the next day.
Conference calls and meetings will put me to sleep at any time.

[kiwisimon]

getting over it is lessening the effects in the first place
1) don't eat on the plane.
2) hydrate a lot on the plane and go very easy on the alcohol.
3) depending on the time zones flown over and the direction of travel try and stretch your days in your home country closer to destination country for a few days before you leave.
4) when you arrive eat the meals the locals are eating (i.e. if it's morning, eat a breakfast), nap when you feel sleepy and go to bed at night even if you aren't tired.
5) wake up with the sun and get outside for a bit. If you exercise try doing it at the same time of the day in your destination country.

[verticaldoug]

I started using compression socks a few years ago. It makes a huge difference. Feet don't swell and you feel just 'better' walking off the airplane through immigration.

As long as you aren't driving or something where falling asleep is dangerous, I'd just power through it, but short power nap is not a bad thing.