How to Fight Jet Lag So You Can Enjoy Your Honeymoon

Travelling across time zones? Here's a comprehensive guide on what to do before you fly, while in the air, and after you land.

If your wedding is around the corner, you might want to start planning the next best thing that happens just after—the honeymoon. Your big day will be brimming with love, and your post-nuptial vacation must be well-stocked with romance; not so much if you begin nodding off when you should actually be basking in marital bliss!

Travelling across time zones lends heaps of excitement, enthusiasm, and perhaps, jitters—the good kind. But what also comes with hopping continents is jet lag. Frequent flyers—and you, too, the occasional globetrotter—we’ve gone the extra ‘mile’ to share all the tips you'll need to combat jet lag during your sojourn. 

You snooze, you lose. 

Jet Lag, Explained

Also known as desynchronosis, jet lag is a temporary circadian rhythm disorder that affects those who quickly travel across multiple time zones. “It is more commonly experienced by those who fly eastward, with the severity of the symptoms varying based on the number of time zones crossed,” explains Dr Sachin D, Consultant, Interventional Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Manipal Hospital. The most common symptoms of jet lag include poor quality of sleep, lack of concentration, tiredness and exhaustion, and even indigestion.

Things to Do Before Taking Off

“It’s important to be fully rested the night before travelling a long distance. If the trip exceeds 3-5 days, consider altering your sleep schedule in your home country a few days prior. Try to mimic your sleep and waking up time as per the time zone you’re travelling into. And, as soon as you sit on the flight, change your clock to the time at the arrival destination,” recommends Dr M.S Kanwar, Senior Consultant, Department of Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.

Things to Do Mid-Air

“If you’re arriving at your destination in the evening or late into the night, hold off sleeping on the flight as far as possible. Depending on the duration of your flight and the different time zones, you could take a short nap before flying. The idea is that once you reach your destination, you should be tired enough to doze off,” informs Dr Prashant Chhajed, Director, Pulmonology and Sleep Centre, Fortis Hiranandani Hospital. 

“Alternatively, if you’re arriving at the destination in the morning or early afternoon, catch up on sleep during the flight to be refreshed once you touch down. Once you arrive, you should rest and wake up as per regular hours,” he adds.

Things to Do After You Touchdown

“After you land, attempt to conform to the dark hours at the destination. Fight off sleep during the day, and if necessary, judiciously consume melatonin gummies or pills to regulate your sleep cycle,” suggests Dr Kanwar. 

Dr Sachin adds, “Timed light exposure therapy can commence three days prior to travelling. Additionally, timed meals and light exercise a couple of hours before bedtime can help combat sleep disturbance and adapt to the new timings. Judicious use of caffeine and sleep promoters may also be used as adjuncts to therapy. Newer therapies including drugs such as benzodiazepine receptor agonists (Zolpidem, Zopiclone) will aid in a sound sleep, while drugs such as Armodafinil are wakefulness promoters, that can be used in select cases.”

If you're more prone to experiencing the symptoms of jet lag, consult a sleep specialist prior to the date of travel to help minimise the after-effects of travelling across time zones. 

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