Surviving Jetlag - any advice

Marc Vaughan · 02-16-2009, 11:57 AM

Hi,

I've landed in the UK for another business trip and am currently propping open my eyelids ... any advice on how to get in sync as quickly as possible?

cartman · 02-16-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc Vaughan

Hi,

I've landed in the UK for another business trip and am currently propping open my eyelids ... any advice on how to get in sync as quickly as possible?

I never really had a problem going to Europe, it was always the trip back to the US that killed me.

I would just drink as much coffee as possible to make it through the first day, then crash early that night, and hope to sleep through the night.

sooner333 · 02-16-2009, 12:16 PM

Yeah, I think the key is just fighting through day one and then going to sleep at a time where you know you can sleep until morning. It worked pretty well for me on my trip to Europe last summer.

MacroGuru · 02-16-2009, 12:26 PM

One tip to help out is to drink plenty of water...more than you usually do..it always helps me out with mine.

Honolulu_Blue · 02-16-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cartman

I never really had a problem going to Europe, it was always the trip back to the US that killed me.

I would just drink as much coffee as possible to make it through the first day, then crash early that night, and hope to sleep through the night.

I always found coming back from Europe to be so much easier than going there.

I used to fly back to Europe on Sunday night, arrive Monday, and then go to work. I just tried to sleep as much as possible on the flight. I ate dinner before hand and took Tylenole PM to help. I never slept all that long or well, but it was enough. Then, like Cartman, it was just coffee, coffee, coffee until I could get to bed early that night.

Going the other way, I never really had an issue. Maybe an afternoon coffee to keep me going, but that's about it.

Lathum · 02-16-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sooner333

Yeah, I think the key is just fighting through day one and then going to sleep at a time where you know you can sleep until morning. It worked pretty well for me on my trip to Europe last summer.

Thats exactly it. I used to travel 3-4 weeks per month all over the country. You just need to force yourself to stay up until normal bedtime the first night.

Whatever you do don't go near your bed, you WILL pass out. I used to go to the gym, a late dinner, then surf the net for a while, take a shower, or even a bath, rub one out, maybe play a game or something. If you can make it until about 10:30 local time then pass out, sleep untill 6:00 AM you'll be ok.

There is also some scientific studies that Melatonin helps.

DaddyTorgo · 02-16-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

rub one out

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lathum

play a game

Yeah like...hmm...idk...what game could you possibly play Marc? EA's FIFA Manager 09?

Critch · 02-16-2009, 01:05 PM

I read that not eating on the plane, then having a local time appropriate meal as soon as you arrive supposedly works. A bit late for you now, I guess.

Personally I never have much of a problem with the 5 hours difference when I cross the Atlantic, so I guess you're just a bit of a woman.

JPhillips · 02-16-2009, 02:12 PM

An Army doctor at my church said to take an Ambien the first night to make sure you won't wake up in the middle of the night. Worked very well for me to get on China time.

DataKing · 02-16-2009, 02:30 PM

Fists with your toes.

rowech · 02-16-2009, 02:41 PM

Not so much jet lag but I get awful headaches when descending. Any advice on that?

SackAttack · 02-16-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowech

Not so much jet lag but I get awful headaches when descending. Any advice on that?

Stop parachuting head-first.

PLD3009 · 02-16-2009, 03:14 PM

Okay turning it round, how about flying to the States from the UK.

What would you recommend, flying out next week, got to hit the ground running Tuesday morning!!

Galaxy · 02-16-2009, 03:28 PM

Do you guys usually overnight it from the US to Europe (landing in Europe sometime in the AM)?

SackAttack · 02-16-2009, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Do you guys usually overnight it from the US to Europe (landing in Europe sometime in the AM)?

I know that's how I traveled from LA to Green Bay when I was job hunting, but that's a two hour difference, not eight.

cartman · 02-16-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Do you guys usually overnight it from the US to Europe (landing in Europe sometime in the AM)?

I tried to get in on the afternoon before any meetings, but often times wasn't able to. One of the worst ones I had was a full day of meetings in San Fran, then took the overnight to London, landing at 6:30am. Had a 9am meeting that went to 11am, then flew to Munich where we had a 4pm to 6pm meeting, followed by a visit to a biergarten that lasted until 11pm. I was beat at the end of that day.

TheOhioStateUniversity · 02-16-2009, 03:39 PM

Does jetleg have no effect on some people. I took the flight to South Korea and back but outside of feeling a little tired the first night/day back experienced no ill effects?

Honolulu_Blue · 02-16-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Do you guys usually overnight it from the US to Europe (landing in Europe sometime in the AM)?

That's how most international flights work. If you're going to London, you may find some same day flights from the east coast, but if you're flying to mainland Europe most flights leave in the afternoon/evening in the US and arrive in the morning in Europe.

Honolulu_Blue · 02-16-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOhioStateUniversity

Does jetleg have no effect on some people. I took the flight to South Korea and back but outside of feeling a little tired the first night/day back experienced no ill effects?

I tend to handle it pretty well. I've only flow between US and Europe though. The first day is a bit of a struggle, but after that I tend to adjust pretty well.

DaddyTorgo · 02-16-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLD3009

Okay turning it round, how about flying to the States from the UK.

What would you recommend, flying out next week, got to hit the ground running Tuesday morning!!

who the hell are you? I recommend you tell us that first!

kidding!

DaddyTorgo · 02-16-2009, 04:37 PM

i really have no idea though. i've only gone from UK-to-US once, and I don't recall the time of day. Plus I'm very little help because I have horrible sleep habits anyways.

cartman · 02-16-2009, 04:37 PM

It's 10:30PM over there Marc, you'd better be asleep by now!

terpkristin · 02-17-2009, 02:47 AM

Last week, I had to shift my body from day shift to night shift over the course of 1 day (woke up Wednesday at 5, got home at 3, slept til 8, stayed up as late as I could, slept, then started night shift on Thursday). I heartily recommend melatonin, you take it about 30 minutes before you want to sleep. Caffeine has also been my friend during my waking times, I'm fairly well-adjusted right now, all things considered..

/tk

finketr · 02-17-2009, 01:17 PM

Well, the obvious answer is don't travel.

For me, going to/from Singapore (24h travel, +12h time difference) wasn't a problem. Going to Europe isn't much of a problem, just stay awake until at least 9 or 10pm and get a good night's sleep.

My trip to Japan was horrible and i didn't sleep a full night until...the morning I left to come back to the US. That was a bitch.
--tim

02-16-2009, 12:26 PM	#4
MacroGuru Coordinator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Utah	One tip to help out is to drink plenty of water...more than you usually do..it always helps me out with mine. __________________ "forgetting what is in the past, I strive for the future"

02-16-2009, 02:12 PM	#9
JPhillips Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Newburgh, NY	An Army doctor at my church said to take an Ambien the first night to make sure you won't wake up in the middle of the night. Worked very well for me to get on China time. __________________ To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.. - Mr. Rogers

02-16-2009, 02:30 PM	#10
DataKing Pro Rookie Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Chicago	Fists with your toes. __________________ Current Games Diablo III (BattleTag: DataKing#1685) Allegiances: Chicago Bears - Detroit Red Wings - Kansas Jayhawks Awards: 2011 Golden Scribe - Other Sports Category (The Straight(away) and Narrow - A Forza Motorsport 3 Dynasty)

02-16-2009, 03:39 PM	#17
TheOhioStateUniversity High School Varsity Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, GA via Columbus, OH	Does jetleg have no effect on some people. I took the flight to South Korea and back but outside of feeling a little tired the first night/day back experienced no ill effects? __________________ Buckeyes Football/Basketball >>>> Your Favorite School

02-16-2009, 04:37 PM	#22
cartman Death Herald Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas	It's 10:30PM over there Marc, you'd better be asleep by now! __________________ Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint

02-16-2009, 12:16 PM	#3
sooner333 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Norman, OK	Yeah, I think the key is just fighting through day one and then going to sleep at a time where you know you can sleep until morning. It worked pretty well for me on my trip to Europe last summer.

02-16-2009, 01:05 PM	#8
Critch lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Herndon, VA	I read that not eating on the plane, then having a local time appropriate meal as soon as you arrive supposedly works. A bit late for you now, I guess. Personally I never have much of a problem with the 5 hours difference when I cross the Atlantic, so I guess you're just a bit of a woman.

02-16-2009, 02:41 PM	#11
rowech Pro Starter Join Date: Feb 2006	Not so much jet lag but I get awful headaches when descending. Any advice on that?

02-16-2009, 03:14 PM	#13
PLD3009 n00b Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cumberland, England	Okay turning it round, how about flying to the States from the UK. What would you recommend, flying out next week, got to hit the ground running Tuesday morning!!

02-16-2009, 03:28 PM	#14
Galaxy Coordinator Join Date: Apr 2005	Do you guys usually overnight it from the US to Europe (landing in Europe sometime in the AM)?

02-16-2009, 04:37 PM	#21
DaddyTorgo Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Massachusetts	i really have no idea though. i've only gone from UK-to-US once, and I don't recall the time of day. Plus I'm very little help because I have horrible sleep habits anyways.

02-17-2009, 02:47 AM	#23
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	Last week, I had to shift my body from day shift to night shift over the course of 1 day (woke up Wednesday at 5, got home at 3, slept til 8, stayed up as late as I could, slept, then started night shift on Thursday). I heartily recommend melatonin, you take it about 30 minutes before you want to sleep. Caffeine has also been my friend during my waking times, I'm fairly well-adjusted right now, all things considered.. /tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

02-17-2009, 01:17 PM	#24
finketr College Prospect Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inland Empire, PRC	Well, the obvious answer is don't travel. For me, going to/from Singapore (24h travel, +12h time difference) wasn't a problem. Going to Europe isn't much of a problem, just stay awake until at least 9 or 10pm and get a good night's sleep. My trip to Japan was horrible and i didn't sleep a full night until...the morning I left to come back to the US. That was a bitch. --tim

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