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Business travellers' guide to minimising jetlag

Time Zone Change Syndrome, or ‘jet lag’ as it is more commonly known, is an issue many business travellers face on a recurring basis. When left unmanaged, it can be a major hindrance to productivity levels while on the road.

When it comes to international travel for business, it’s important to give yourself every advantage possible to ensure you are performing at maximum capacity. Whether you’re a travel booker or a corporate traveller, follow and share these tips and tricks for international travellers to prepare for and manage jet lag.

Scientifically speaking, jet lag is caused by a disturbance to ‘circadian rhythms’, which operate on 24-hour cycles and involve physical, mental and behavioural changes in our bodies. Travelling through different time zones requires an adjustment of these rhythms, and can result in fatigue, indigestion, concentration loss… you know the rest.

While we are still yet to find a cure for jet lag, travel experts and health professionals have discovered ways to minimise the effects of jet lag, which can be implemented at each stage of your journey.

Choose flights that arrive in the afternoon

  • Afternoon or early evening arrivals are prime for reducing the effects of jet lag as normal sleeping patterns can be achieved quickly and naps are easier to avoid. If an afternoon arrival isn’t an option, keep any daytime naps to 45 minutes or less. This ensures that adjustment to the new timezone is quicker and you are alert and productive when you need to be over the course of the business trip.

West is best, east is a beast

  • Travelling eastward incurs a much greater disturbance to our biological clock than travelling westward because we are giving our circadian rhythms less time in the day to adjust to the new time zone. If possible, try to select a westerly route as the extra hours in the day will give your body the time it needs to adjust. If flying eastward is inevitable (sorry to our Perth readers), allow approximately one and a half days of recovery time per time zone crossed. Keep this in mind when scheduling any important meetings or events!

Add stop-overs 

  • Although sometimes impossible for business travellers with tight schedules, adding a stopover of at least 24-hours on long-haul flights can be beneficial in resetting your body and reducing jet lag. Be strategic and schedule a stop-over in a city where you have clients or business partners to visit. You might as well kill two birds with one stone, all while reducing jet lag.

 

Coordinate sleeping times

  • Use sleeping masks and noise-cancelling earplugs to ensure you can coordinate your sleeping time with that of your destination, even if it’s still light outside. If you struggle to avoid sleeping outside of the time zone you’re entering, consider meditating every two hours for 30 to 60 minutes until you’re in sync.

Choose a carrier with lie-flat beds

  • Fully lie-flat beds are a business and first-class luxury that are becoming standard in airlines today. This is because horizontal sleeping plays a major role in facilitating deep sleep and minimising jet lag for road warriors. If the front-end is not a feasible option for any reason, opt for the premium economy alternative where possible. Premium economy will usually provide you with more comfortable seat pitch, suitable for sleeping, wider seat and extra legroom, all without going over budget.

Limit screen time

  • Where possible, avoid the use of your phone or laptop unless necessary. It has been well established that the prevalence of blue light from such devices can interrupt your circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion, leading to a lack of quality sleep. Activating the “Night Mode” feature found on most devices can also assist you in maintaining a proper body clock by dimming and warming the light when the local environment is dark.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol

  • Pressurised cabin air is already very dehydrating, so try to avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks in-flight. High altitudes also quicken the effects of alcohol (one in the air is equivalent to two on the ground), and the last thing you need to add to your jet lag is a hangover. We recommend keeping water in a bottle and sipping periodically throughout the flight. This will encourage you to stand up and stretch those legs when it comes time for a refill.

Light meals only

  • Some travellers prefer to fast on their journey to reduce the effects of jet lag. If that’s not an option for you, opt for fruit and vegetables or light, warm meals that are easily digested. The aim of this is to minimise the potential for discomfort and fatigue so you are arriving refreshed and ready to hit the ground running for what’s ahead.

 

Expose yourself to light

  • The sooner you are able to expose your body to natural light, the sooner your biological clock is able to adjust to the new time zone. This is because our circadian rhythms are controlled by light and darkness.

Increase your melatonin levels

  • Melatonin is a naturally secreted hormone that controls our body clock by promoting sleep. Eating foods that are high in tryptophan, such as dairy, red meat, fish and peanuts can help to stimulate melatonin. Melatonin supplements can also be purchased at health food stores and are best to be taken one hour prior to sleeping.

Keep your regular exercise routine

  • Exercise helps to increase your body temperature which plays a role in resetting your circadian rhythm. Try exercising outside to take in the natural sunlight and quicken the process.