Jet Lag

...how to get rid of it?

[nutsandbolts]

I've just returned to England from my lovely 5-week vacation in sunny North Carolina, US of A. Very nice it was too. I'm slightly tanned and I've become a touch plumper too - but I've also got the worse case of Jet Lag.

I've Googled for an answer but most sites are flogging pills, lights etc - is there a home-made way to combat the horrors of Jet Lag?

[Go60Guy]

I think its a matter of time more than anything else. I just returned to the West Coast USA from Thailand. I have a much more difficult time coming east than going west.

I arrived home at about 10:00 AM and was determined to stay awake until bedtime. I made the mistake of lying down on my couch at about 3:30 PM, flipped on the tube to watch the war on CNN, and was asleep within 2 minutes. I woke up 5 hours later.

Oh well, I'm slowly getting adjusted. BTW, I do think melatonin helps.

[felix]

You indicated you didn't like to take pills, but the best thing I've found is a sleeping pill called Ambien. It's a relatively new drug, and it doesn't have some of the side effects of the more traditional pills. You basically get about 6 hours of truly restful sleep. Even on an airplane. Even in coach!

It doesn't knock you out, you can still make connections or navigate customs and immigration, and the best thing is that when the 6 hours is over, you're ready to go. No hangover.

My doctor actually prescribed it just for this purpose. I use it when returing to the east coast from the far east to get on a normal sleep schedule as early as possible. Go60Guy, if you had taken it around 10pm (a couple hours after waking from your nap), you would have been set the next day. I also use it on the red-eye from the west coast. I get home around 6-8am ready for the day.

[Go60Guy]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. For a guy my size, sleeping in coach is usually only a remote possibility.

[ggrot]

Dont stress it. Its not healthy to try and force yourself awake just to get back into schedule a bit earlier. Get the rest you need when you need it the first day, then just make sure to go to bed at the 'normal' time the next. You may find it hard to get to sleep, so take a dose of something that knocks you out (NyQuill, alcohol, whatever).

[tedster]

One of the factors in jet lag is the fact that your body is removed from a spot in the magnetic field of the earth and rapidly "transplanted" to another. The body's internal fields only re-adapt slowly.

However you can help things out by twirling, just like a kid, with your arms held out from your body. Don't just laugh at me, try it out. It can help, and it's free and drugless.

[Bradley]

Tedster,

In a couple of days, I'm flying from Virginia to Hawaii.. I'll test this out and report back the results. haha! :) Should be fun!

[nutsandbolts]

Thanks for the tips. I tried NyQuill from the Atlanta airport and yep, it made me sleep like a baby - lots of dribbling, crying and burping.

Even though I went to bed at 4:00am here, I'm pretty sure my body clock will click back soon....Zzzzzzzzz

[WibbleWobble]

However you can help things out by twirling, just like a kid, with your arms held out from your body.

You could also shine a torch at the back of your knee, because according to popular kids TV show How 2, it helps adjust your internal body clock thing. Surely a combination would be the ultimate in jet-lag pre-empting!

[Go60Guy]

Is it safe to shine a torch on the back of your knee while you're on Nyquil and twirling?

[PaulPaul]

Does torch = flashlight?

[WibbleWobble]

Well a fire type torch would burn I expect, so yes, flashlight, whatever. The sun works too, if you can get it to bend to your might and shine on the back of your knees.

[TheDoctor]

The sun works too, if you can get it to bend to your might and shine on the back of your knees.

You could stand on your head, facing away from the sun with no jeans (or whatever) on.

It mght not clear your jet-lag, but it would probably get you onto that last, small item on the news.

[Jon_King]

I have found when I am in good shape (physically fit) jet lag is hardly noticeable.

[mayor]

Tedster >> you can help things out by twirling
Bradley >> flying from Virginia to Hawaii

Besides the magnetic fields, you need to simulate Coriolis force effects, which grow weaker as you approach the Equator, so going to Hawaii don't twirl too fast.

In the Northern hemisphere, twirl counterclockwise. In the Southern hemisphere, twirl clockwise.

All kidding aside, just pretend jet lag doesn't exist. Should be easy for a 24/7 webmaster.

[Alphawolf]

I have found when I am in good shape (physically fit) jet lag is hardly noticeable.

Not true for me. When you go from New York to Thailand and have a 12-13hr time difference I don't see how it can be 'hardly noticeable'.

AW

[gingerbreadman]

Almost instant cure

1. Tequila
2. Pass out
3. Sleep for a couple of days

Jet Lag will have gone. Works every time.

[digitalghost]

Adipex, Upjohn's, West Coast TurnArounds, Dexidrine... oh, or sleep. ;)

[NeedScripts]

This is what I did when I first came from India to USA.

Slept first day
Stayed up during night and stayed up all day (next day).
Next night I was so tired that it was easy to sleep.
Cuz I have slept all night, I was not able to sleep any later then 9:00 am.
Did lot of work out and some work.
It was easy to go to sleep at night again.

Never had to worry about jet Lag again :)