Stories Collected While Living in France
How to Get Over Jet Lag…
Between France and California there is nine hours time difference. When it comes to jet lagged, it is easier for me to travel home to California, than it is going back to France.
I have a few tricks up my sleeve about catching up to local time, but instead I think I will be jet lagged and let you tell me what secrets you have up your sleeve to beat being jet lagged.
No napping allowed. Whichever way I’m going, East or West, I try and stick with being awake when everyone else is awake. I may go to bed earlier or get up earlier, but I try and stay awake all day.
agree with meredith…
always try to be ‘there’ with those you fly out to!
having said that; I can’t help but feeling horrible with jet lag myself, whatever I do. Since I’m a terrible sleeper anyway, it doesn’t make that much of a difference though!
happy times for you, love! enjoy it all and because I haven’t said it last time, enjoy especially Mexico 🙂
When I travel to Europe, I’m always more jet lagged flying back home to the states, which is the opposite of you, Cory. Maybe you’re always less jet lagged at the place you are going on vacation because you are so excited to be there. Then you’re home and have to be back to the grind of daily life so you feel more jet lagged. I try to sleep on the flight over to Europe and try to stay awake on the flight back to the States.
I sleep on the plane-trying to mimic the time zone where I’m going, but it’s too late for that seeing how you’re already there. I know! Stop in Massachusetts on the way (you know, to “adjust” to the change slowly:) I have just the place for you to stay, lol.
When traveling to Europe, we do best if we try to stay up until 8 or 9. Then sleep until morning. That is only possible when we are not the driver… When I drive right away, I usually have to nap on the side of the road and then it’s all over for time zones.
I have less problems coming back because I just wake up early and get stuff done. I go to bed early too…I like waking up early so it is never a problem.
Also eating meals on the new time zone helps…
I remember those trips to and from the UK and how lousey I felt upon arrival. I’ve never been able to sleep on a plane, the air is so stale and stuffy and now-a-days I’d be much more nervous than I was all those years ago during a long flight. I do think a shower to freshen up, a little cat nap followed by a high protein meal (or even snack), a strong cup of coffee and a trip to a brocante someplace…anyplace…is always good to perk up the jet lagged!
I have no real tricks because sometimes I’m fine and others, I’m not.
I will say that last year when by some crazy miracle, we got to travel in “club world” to England and the seats reclined all the way down to a bed, well now, I didn’t have trouble with jet lag after that long flight 🙂
What works for me…no naps and drink a lot of water. If you normally go to bed at 10pm, then the first two nights, head to bed at 9pm in the new time zone. It’s not always easy, but it does seem to help me. Enjoy your time with family and friends.
P.S. I wish your meet and great was in Ft. Worth. My sister went to Chico State her freshman year before transfering to San Diego State. Nantucket’s wares look awesome. Have fun.
Apparently the secret lies in the observation that the human body’s natural circadian rhythm works on something like a 25-hour day — which is what makes the westbound adaptation generally easier than the eastbound.
EASTBOUND OVERNIGHT (e.g., US to Europe):
I go to bed as soon as possible after I arrive, sleep most of the first day, then get up in late afternoon, have a light early supper, walk around outside a bit, and go to bed on local time. I assume the same would work for westbound overnight, which I’ve never done.
EASTBOUND SAME DAY (e.g., California to US East Coast):
After you arrive, try to go to bed that night by 11 PM or 12 midnight (even though it feels a lot earlier). The agony is getting up the next morning, when the body feels as though it’s still the middle of the night — but I try to force myself. Takes me a few days to adjust.
WESTBOUND SAME DAY (e.g., US East Coast to California):
The easiest adjustment, because I get to stay up pretty much as late as I want at my destination, then sleep till what seems to be late the next morning!!!
I have learned to book my flights so when I travel to the US (From London)it is a midafternoon flight, so it isn’t too far off from bed time when I arrive. When I fly back home to London, I fly early in the AM so we land in London around 8pm. I will not fly over night if I can help it..As that messes me up.
We have found using the Argonne Laboratory Anti-Jetlag diet makes a huge difference. When we have traveled from Texas to Europe or Israel, we have used it, and “hit the ground running” when we arrive. We have never used it for our return trip, so we allow ourselves a few days at home to get back on schedule.
We are preparing to go to Marburger Farm/Round Top in a couple weeks. I so desperately wanted to meet you last year. We had scheduled Marburger Farm for our last day. Friends who were there with us badly needed to talk, (major life change) so we spent the morning talking/listening, then had to leave for home.
My goal is to spend 3 weeks “living” in Paris someday. Maybe we can meet then. In the meantime, I love your posts about the brocante!!!
just keep going. I looked at the California map Corey and considered the drive up to Chico. It would be that worth it to meet you and celebrate with you…but It’s not going to happen I’m afraid…one day..
Don’t. Give. In. !
That’s my advice for beating jet lag. If you arrive at your destination and it’s 8:00 a.m. there, act like it’s 8 a.m. Have coffee and breakfast. Take a shower and change if you must, but DO NOT take a nap. You’ll regret it. One day of forcing yourself into the new schedule and your adrenaline will take over.
You’ll have plenty of time to catch up when you get home!
I try to sleep on overnight flights to Europe. Stay awake once there and go to bed early the first night. Drinking lots of water and eating protein does help as well. Although I must say it does take a couple of days for me to feel adjusted. I am reading all the other tips as we will be traveling abroad in May.
I try to tough it up though the day and go to bed at night by local time. But going to the States is the hardest as we are on 12-hour difference, so have to switch day and night completely. My excitement of being in a new place always helps too 🙂
So happy for you, Corey you’re home and happy!
Another idea; Hero Husband always tries to get night flights to fly out to the USA – it helps him greatly because when arriving he’s not too far from bedtime there…. but for some years he had to fly to China/Japan a few times from England and THAT really caused him problems (although it’s just exactly the other way round as with the states). I think it was also that they still had flights with SMOKING SECTIONS and of course there is absolutely no way of avoiding smokes even when the compartments are ‘separated’…. Anyway, you’re there now and all will be well!
Like everyone else said… no napping if at all possible. We have 13-14 hours difference between Japan and Atlanta (depending on the time of year – no daylight savings here in Japan), so the jet lag is pretty bad.
The other thing is to get as much sunshine as possible – that really helps to reset the body clock more quickly. Hope your jet lag disappears ASAP!
I agree with Kathie B. My family flies from the East Coast to Europe every year, and “no napping on arrival”, simply does NOT work with 2 children in tow. None of us are able to sleep on the flight, so here is what we do:
No eating on the overnight flight over and no alcohol for the adults as well, try to sleep, then once we land we have breakfast, schedule an early check in before we leave the US (we usually check in around 10 in the morning), and sleep for 2-3 hours. Our secret is that we make sure we are awake by no later than 1 pm local time. Then showers and a long walk in the sunshine to see the sights! We go to bed around 10 or 11 local time, then wake the next morning perfectly on schedule.
The problem we have if we force ourselves to stay awake the first day is that we all wake up super early on day two, so the second day we are wacked out as well.
The return flight is much easier, as we force ourselves to stay awake until at least 9 pm, then go to bed. Yes, you will wake up very early on day two, but I use the time to go through snail mail, email, etc. I seem to regain about an hour a day on the return flight back east.
I guess in summary the trip East is the acute phase, while the trip back West entails a more chronic recovery. Either way we are always so thankful to have the opportunity to travel that we try not to complain. Have a lovely time, Corey, and I so wish I could meet you in California! Maybe when I am in Fance this Fall…
Flying Business Class is for us the best defense against jet lag. The few times we have used all our miles for an upgrade the trip seems to be as quick as a Miami – New York flight. But since we cannot always do this, I find it helps to fly at night so that you can sleep and then just go on with your day when you arrive.
However, no matter what approach we try, we are always TIRED.
Best, Lisa
Corey – hope your daughter is OK in Mexico City following the earthquake and that you’ve spoken with her!!!!
….love to arrive just before noon in London… then, stay up & do things with a short nap in the later afternoon- go out to dinner, hang out with friends, etc…. the trick for me is to get into the local rhythm asap, then head out from London to wherever I’m headed…on the way home to California, I like to leave London in the morning & arrive at SFO in the afternoon same day!
Once, I got back about dinnertime & just stayed the night in San Francisco, heading home to Chico the next morning…. absolutely no jet lag issues that time! good luck everyone & happy, happy travels!!
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