With commercial airplanes and their tickets that are becoming more affordable each year, the grand doors of the world have opened to us. We are now able to experience different cultures, meet interesting people, and expand our minds that way. But through those doors came one unexpected issue that comes with us on every trip – jet lag. It can be a minor nuisance or a major problem that ruins half of our vacation. Here’s a beginner’s guide to overcoming travel fatigue with natural remedies and sleep hacks you should study. That will make all your future long-distance travels a lot easier to handle.
Avoid electronic devices one hour before sleep
When you are suffering from jet lag, you tend to sleep during the day and stay awake at night. It is important to find a quick way to turn this around so your vacation wouldn’t go to waste. Unless you’ll be partying all night of course, but that is not the case we are exploring here. One of the ways to make yourself fall asleep faster by employing only natural sleep hacks is to avoid electronic devices.
One hour before sleep is enough to let your mind wind down a bit by not bombarding it with new and different information. It needs to slow down the incessant flow of thoughts enough to feel sleepy and give in to the soft bed. Traveling and having your sleep cycle disturbed is not a good time for tv binge-watching for example, as that will only keep you awake longer. Offer your mind a silent and dark environment to make it relax and doze off.
To stay awake keep moving
On the other hand, if you need to stay awake, keep moving. Physical activity will help you in two ways. First, you will wake up because of all the motion. Second, you will get tired and fall asleep easier when the time comes for it. Finally, you will seize the day and not let it go to waste if you approach it actively instead of sleeping it off.
Prepare your body for the new schedule in advance
The more comfortable way of overcoming travel fatigue with natural remedies and sleep hacks is to prepare in advance for the new schedule. The experts on relocation from Transparent International NYC usually advise their clients that are making an international move to start changing their sleep cycles little by little in advance. That means you should tune your body for the new time zone over a period of time before going there. Move your time of waking up and falling asleep an hour or two each day. That is far less stressful for the body than the shock it receives when it arrives at its destination unprepared.
For overcoming travel fatigue, use sunlight to your advantage
Sunlight is there to wake up the flora and fauna, and given that we are part of nature, sunlight has that effect on us as well. Open all the blinds, and let the natural light in. That will ward sleep away for some time at least.
Take melatonin to fall asleep faster
Taking melatonin is a bit more aggressive than any of the other techniques here as it is a form of medicine. Melatonin is a hormone our body produces and its level rises around the evening to promote sleep. This supplement is very effective for many, but its use must be approved by a doctor as it is not that good for everyone.
Take herbal tea in the evening
Herbs are the building blocks of natural remedies and medicines out there. They can help you relax your body and fall asleep when you should. Herbal teas are not always good for sleep because they can contain too much caffeine. The following ones are great to consume an hour before you fall into the dreamland:
- Chamomile tea
- Valerian tea
- Passionflower tea
- Lavender tea
Of course, herbs can affect your organism in many different ways. So, if you have any condition at all, consult a doctor regarding whether drinking a certain tea is safe for you or not.
Warm milk can be a good relaxant
This one is a bit controversial because some of today’s specialists claim drinking cow’s milk is not a good option. But having a cup of warm milk can be a good relaxant that can have you napping before you know it. One of the reasons for that may be the fact that our mothers used to put us to bed with a warm cup of milk. That meant security, trust, and relaxation to us, and it unconsciously evokes the same feelings or at least an echo of them. Whatever you believe or don’t, it is worth giving this tasty remedy a try.
Try meditation and other relaxing techniques
Meditation can do a lot for you, but its main goal is to relax your mind and body and get you to a place of inner peace. Reaching inner peace is extremely beneficial for the quality of your sleep. For a full effect, you can convert your bedroom into a Zen sanctuary that will get you to feel tranquility the moment you step into it. Relaxing your mind relaxes your body and promotes a healthier and less stressful life. Therefore, these techniques are worth learning because they directly affect your long-term anxiety by reducing it greatly. And less anxiety means faster falling asleep, no matter whether it is after a long flight or not.
Final thoughts
As you can see, there’s no need to immediately go for the meds when you are struggling with jet lag. Overcoming travel fatigue with natural remedies and sleep hacks is possible. All you need to do is find what works best for you and perfect it. In the end, you can always dedicate some time to adjusting your body to the new sleep schedule the slow way – over a week or so. Whatever your technique of choice may be, we wish you a fine vacation you’ll return from rested and entertained.
