| People who travel frequently or through multiple time | | | | One way to avoid jet lag is to begin adjusting to the |
| zones can experience jet lag at some point during their | | | | new time zone several days before you leave for |
| vacation. Jet lag is a term used to describe the | | | | your trip. This means going to bed later or waking up |
| experience of people who travel and have a period of | | | | earlier depending on your time zone difference. Doing |
| disorientation that occurs after landing in a different | | | | so will help you to adjust your inner clock. Although |
| time zone, typically multiple time zones away from | | | | living that way may feel strange at first, it is better that |
| home. It can affect your physical condition and mental | | | | you start at home than slog through your vacation trip |
| state. Mostly it has to do with your "internal clock" that | | | | because of jet lag. As with sleep, you should also |
| remains stable while stationed at home, but can be | | | | adjust your eating and activity patterns as well so that |
| thrown off by a relatively quick journey across time | | | | when you arrive at the destination, your body and mind |
| zones. | | | | will be on the destination geography clock already. |
| Jet lag results in serious changes in your sleep pattern | | | | If you arrive and experience fatigue at an odd time of |
| that may conceivably influence your waking up up at | | | | the day, it helps to resist the pull of taking naps. Rather, |
| 1:00 a.m. and going to bed at 4:00 p.m. It also causes | | | | step outside, get some fresh air, and allow the sunlight |
| fatigue while you are awake because your body is | | | | to help adjust your internal clock. By using natural light, |
| routinely alerting you that it is time for bed. This can | | | | your mind will think that your body needs to be awake |
| lead to headaches, the inability to concentrate or focus, | | | | since it is sunny outside. Additionally, try to avoid |
| and put you in a really bad mood. | | | | staying exclusively inside or in darkness if you can |
| Jet lag depends a good deal on your travel destination | | | | during most of your waking hours. |
| and the time difference in hours from your home. | | | | You also want to avoid caffeine or alcohol, each being |
| Experts agree that jet lag is at its worst when you | | | | able to make you sleepy or jittery during strange hours. |
| travel east since your body rhythm gets extended for | | | | By staying hydrated with lots of water, you help your |
| up to 27 hours when flying westward. The longer you | | | | body to adjust naturally. Finally, if you can, try to travel |
| travel outside your time zone, the more difficult it is to | | | | out a day or two early to avoid being a walking |
| make up for the difference. Once you have jet lag, | | | | zombie on your vacation. If you are able to allow |
| there is no way to "cure it." However there are | | | | yourself a few days to adjust, you will enjoy your |
| precautions you can take to help avoid it in the first | | | | vacation much more. |
| place or at least minimize its impact. | | | | |