This year I’ve been bouncing around all over the place – through countries continents and times zones, and there’s one thing I’ve begun to loathe…and that’s jetlag.

I’ve been messing with my body clock something chronic in my travels – mid year I jumped 3 time zones in just over a week, putting it a full half day out of tune which really messed with my head! And when I returned from a year travelling and studying in Australia I pretty much went into a coma like state and slept for a solid 18hours!

Jetlag sucks. It can literally put you out of action in a zombie like state for nearly a week if you’re not careful. It’s happened to me on more than one occasion, and if I’m completely truthful 9 times out of 10 it’s my own fault – indeed such is the case currently in Switzerland, although I’m also putting that slightly down to the clocks moving back into winter time the weekend of my arrival!

So how do you avoid it?! How do you avoid being a liability of a human being for the first few days of your awesome trip?! Well here’s My Top Tips to Avoid Jetlag…

Hydrate

Without a shadow of a doubt keeping hydrated before, during and after a long haul flight is a key feature to avoiding jetlag. It give your body the best chance to recover. It’s especially important if you land in a tropical climate where you’re body struggles to adjust and retina salts and water lost through sweating heaps!

Avoid Coffee/Energy Drinks/Anything Packed with Caffeine!

….and keeping hydrated means avoiding coffee! Coffee dehydrates you ALOT so if you want to recover leave it well alone. I know how tempting it can be to pry your eyes open with a double expresso, but try your best not too! Anyhow a nice cold glass of water should perk you up!

The Perfect Example of What NOT To Do!

…and Alcohol

It’s longhaul, it’s cost you an arm and a leg and there’s free booze inflight – I’m a sucker for a pre nap gin and tonic on a flight, but the more you drink the less hydrated you’ll be so try and limit yourself. The same goes at your destination. If you can’t avoid the party make sure you start sculling rehydration sachets before bed or in the morning!

Adjust Your Sleep Pattern ASAP

One of the worst things you can do is sleep when your body tells you too! Seems crazy right?! But by getting into the local sleeping pattern as soon as you can you’ll have an awesome chance of feeling normal quicker. Get started inflight and set your watch to local time. Even if it means battling fatigue and slapping yourself in the face every ten minutes the evening of your arrival force yourself to not sleep until about 10pm local time!

…and Eating Pattern

This is the one I’ve found the worst to deal with – especially if you’re jumping backwards time zone wise. Try and eat light meals at local times and ease your body into it. There’s nothign worse than ploughing through a full roast dinner if you stomach thinks its 4am!

Me…Horrendously Jetlagged!

Fly Overnight Where Possible

I think most people make this decision without even realizing it but flying overnight is a heaps better option than during the day, mainly due to sleep patterns. Even if you don’t do it to avoid jetlag who wants to waste daylight sat on a plane?!

Walk Around Inflight

I used to look at the inflight info and the obscure exercises they suggest. Now I find myself actually doing them! Especially if you’re flying long haul getting up from time to time and having a stretch, a walk, basically anything to keep the blood flowing. It’ll make you heaps more comfortable and feeling alot more refreshed on arrival.

…and Get Outside When You Arrive

Don’t hole up inside once you get to your destination – especially if you’re homeward bound. Get outside, get some sunlight, get some fresh air and get that blood pumping!

You guys have any horrible jet lag experience or any tried and tested tips to avoid it?!