I could remember the first time I travelled out of Nigeria, to a country with a different time zone, it took me about 3 days to overcome jet lag. So many things changed in my system; I had insomnia, lost appetite and was always feeling sleepy during the day.

When you travel and cross about 2-3 or even more time zones, jet lag will definitely occur. Crossing time zones changes your normal body clock and it takes time to align your body with the new time zone. This change in time zones has effect on your sleeping schedule and alertness during the day.

A lot of travellers must have found themselves in this situation a number of times. Many travelers fail to take note of the time difference, hence the jet lag they experience. It may take the body system few days to adjust to the new difference.

Here are 3 ways to avoid jet lag when traveling to a different time zone.

ADJUST YOUR CLOCK BEFORE TRAVELING

Few days before embarking into your journey, try to adjust to the time zone of the destination you’re visiting. How will you do this? Once you know the time zone of your destination, try as much as possible to change your eating and sleeping schedule to the time you will be taking your meal or rest over there. This will prepare your body for the new time zone. Once you get to your destination, it becomes very easy for you to adopt the new time zone because you have already set your body clock to it.

GET ENOUGH SLEEP ON THE PLANE

No doubt, it is very tiring to travel from a place to another. But one way to relief the stress is to get enough sleep. This will make more sense if the flight is overnight. You will have a long time to rest before getting to your destination. This will help you deal with jet lag, if not fully, but at least.

DO NOT SLEEP IMMEDIATELY YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION

This may be quite difficult to do you after the stress of flying. But it is advisable not to sleep immediately you get to your destination, unless you arrive at a time almost close to your normal sleeping time. But when you get to your destination in the morning or at night, try as much as possible to take a walk and hunting for sunlight. It is a good idea to get enough sunlight as soon as you arrive your destination in the day. Being exposed to the daylight leaves the body feeling better.

Of course you will be tempted to take a nap; after being exhausted from a long flight, but this may end up being hours of sleep which may eventually disrupt your normal sleeping schedule.