Don't Let Jet Lag Ruin Your Vacation

By Stepy Kamei

Vacations are a time for fun and relaxation, something everyone looks forward to at least once during the year. That can make it all the more upsetting when something like jet lag gets in the way of making it a truly blissful experience. Jet lag can cause problems when you return home, either immediately or in the coming days, or it can even affect you throughout your entire trip. If you want to be able to enjoy your vacation and get the most out of your well-deserved time off without having to deal with the woes of jet lag, you'll want to be prepared with some simple tips and tricks to keep you going in the face of fatigue caused by travel. 

Make a Gameplan 

When you're deciding on a flight time, try to book a flight which allows for an early evening arrival at your destination. Health and sleep experts recommend you do your best to stay awake until about 10 p.m. local time before going to bed, in order to get in sync with the new time difference. If you're going far and the time change will be very drastic, you may want to start preparing your body a few days ahead of time by going to bed earlier or later, depending where you're headed off to. 

Remember to Stay Hydrated

It will be tempting to turn to unlimited coffee cup refills throughout your vacation, but you'll be better off if you stick with water as much as you can. Generally speaking, we already have a hard time staying hydrated in our everyday lives, and traveling can only make it even harder to prevent dehydration. One of the key symptoms of dehydration is fatigue, so do your body a favor and drink water often during your trip. 

Eat a Nutritious Diet

Consuming meals which are high in protein and fiber content can help give you the energy you need to power through the first few days of your trip as you get adjusted to the new time zone. It'll be easier to turn to fast food and convenient meals, but do your best to eat healthy for a healthier trip overall. 

Embrace the Sun

As long as the weather permits this, get outside as often as you can. When the body is exposed to sunlight, it gets a natural boost of Vitamin D, which can increase energy levels in an organic and healthy manner. Try scheduling most of your activities in outdoor settings -- just be sure to stock up on sunscreen as well. 

Follow these tips, and your trip should be relaxing, but not to the point of becoming drowsy.