Beating Jet Lag

Last week I flew from Tampa to Los Angeles for a one day meeting. Friends asked me if I was crazy. No, the business training was worth it, and I have a system for beating jet lag. With over 25 international flights logged, it's a well-tested routine that works for me.

A few pieces of equipment are necessary; a good noise reduction headset, sleep mask, and a soft pharmacy-grade neck brace. The neck brace is an essential piece of travel gear; semi-circular neck pillows don't stop the head from dropping forward whereas the cloth medical brace does.

A good seat assignment helps. For the red-eye flights where the entire plane sleeps, my favorite is to get three seats across. Window seats afford something to lean against. Aisle seats give you the option to get up and move around without disturbing your seat mates. Avoid the seats that are against a bulkhead as they don't recline.

Hydrate! Pack an empty water bottle or buy one as soon as you are through security. Drink more water than you would normally as air-conditioning has a drying effect. Skip the alcohol. Avoid salty snacks which increase your need water. Hold the coffee until the very end when you need to be alert through disembarkation. Bring eye drops if you have the slightest tendency toward dry eye.

Mental attitude is critical. As soon as the travel begins, set your watch to your destination time and start thinking about those daily routines. Every two hours think about what time it is at your destination and imagine what you would be doing at that time on a normal day. As much as possible, match your meals and activity to that internal image. A good acupressure system can enhance this process.

Sleep as best you can. If sleep eludes you, rest and meditate. Pretend you are sleeping and often sleep will come.

Wear comfortable shoes that can either be slipped off or loosely laced. Feet swell on long journeys with lots of sitting.

When there are layovers, walk the terminals for exercise. Yes it looks weird but people understand what you're doing after the second lap.

On long flights, get up and move around. If you are blocked in, wiggle your feet, stretch and do isotonic exercise. Movement helps prevent a potentially life threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis...and it feels good.

The key to avoiding constipation is fiber, fluid, and exercise. Only take a fiber supplement if you have enough fluid to go with it. Yoga-style belly exercises help.

Especially on flights without meal service, pack your own healthy food. I also pack untoasted muesli and my favorite teabags so I can make my own breakfast in the hotel room. Next trip I'll be adding powdered milk to make it better.

Every trip is different. On this most recent "coach" experience, the blankets were on the menu for purchase. Next flight I'll add a shawl to the carry-on kit. My friends, if you have more to add to this list, please do so. For those of us that love to travel, staying healthy on the journey makes the destination all the more enjoyable. Safe journey!