If you’re preparing for a vacation or business trip in the near distant future, SHEEX® has sleep tips on how to avoid jet lag and help get your sleep cycle back to normal.
Though jet lag and time differences will inevitably play a role when it comes to sleep and travel, there are measures you can take to limit the effects of travel. By using some of the tips and techniques below, you’ll be able to help adjust your internal clock and get great sleep in your travel destination.
How to Avoid Jet Lag While Traveling
1. Sunlight Exposure Can Offset Jet Lag
If you’re trying to figure out how to avoid jet lag, an essential part of adapting to your new time zone is letting your body adjust to the sunset and sunrise times. As light naturally tells your body it’s time to wake up, the darkness has a reverse effect in that it will help put you to sleep. With that being said, staying indoors will only worsen jet lag as you won’t be able to adapt to the change in sunlight.
However, if you’re having difficulty falling asleep after traveling west and are faced with a much later sunset than what you’re used to, go the way of the vampire and shelter yourself from the light. By shuttering yourself from all light sources, you’ll be able to trick your body into thinking it’s time for sleep and help put an end to restlessness.
2. Cooler Heads Prevail with the Best Travel Pillow
You can’t drag your mattress across the country, but bringing a pillow along with you on your travels can be very helpful, especially if your hotel has pillows that look like a flattened piece of foam or an overstuffed monstrosity. By taking along a pillow like the SHEEX® Performance Cooling Pillow, you’ll never have to find the cool side of the pillow again as the Climarelle Cool technology features amazing cooling qualities to speed up sleep onset. Travel Pillows also offer great neck and head support, so you won’t have to wake up without being able to turn your head due to flimsy hotel pillows.
3. Change Your Bed Time In Advance
If you’re planning a lengthy trip with a dramatic time zone change, it can be incredibly helpful to shift your bedtime ahead of schedule. Even shifting your bedtime by an hour can make a dramatic difference in adapting to your new location.
If you’re heading east, try moving your bedtime an hour earlier a few days in advance of your trip. If you’re traveling west, pushing your bedtime back an hour can help adjust your internal clock ahead of time.
4. Say No To Naps
Even if you’re running on a few hours of sleep, avoiding a nap at all costs is one of the most important steps in adapting to your new time zone. By napping during the day, you’ll most likely end up tossing and turning all night.
Especially within the first 48 hours of arriving at your new destination, avoiding a nap is essential in adapting to the new time zone. Additionally, by prolonging your sleep time until the night, you’ll most likely be able to fall asleep with relative ease when the time comes to crash. However, if you're exhausted to the point where a nap is inevitable, be sure to keep your naps limited to a reasonable length.
5. Put Down The Caffeine
We know, you need your morning coffee, but be sure to avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening if you’re trying to adjust to a new time zone. It goes without saying that excessive caffeine intake can be a nightmare when it comes to falling asleep.
6. Find Your Comfort Zone
Lastly, it’s important to have a comfortable environment when you’re sleeping away from your precious bedroom at home, and taking a chance on hotel beds and sheets can be unsuccessful at times. By investing in travel bedding like the SHEEX® SLEEP•SAX, you’ll be sure to sleep in an oasis of comfort wherever your travels take you. Made with the same breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics that SHEEX® has become renowned for, the cooling qualities of the SLEEP•SAX are sure to give you the ultimate sleep experience despite the temperature or climate.
If you’re struggling with figuring out how to avoid jet lag on your next trip, using some of the tips above can have a profound effect in helping you adjust to your new time zone. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, a great night of sleep can ensure you’re ready for whatever your trip has in store for you.
Updated 09/16/2021
