The best thing about flying away on holiday is that it’s taking you to exciting new places and a big dose of R&R.
The not-so-good factors include jitters (including about things we’ve inevitably forgotten), queues through security and – especially on long haul flights – major skin dry-out and jetlag.
If there’s a foolproof way to return to sleeping all night and feeling active all day, instead of the other way around, despite being several hours adrift, I’ve yet to find it – and I’ve tried everything from taking arnica tablets (fail) to wearing brown paper bags on my feet (yes, it looked as laughable as it sounds; no, it didn’t work.) Some people are affected more than others, and for most it’s worse travelling east rather than west. There are no guaranteed cures, but there are ways to recover from it a little sooner.
- Turn your wristwatch to the time at your destination as soon as you take-off. At the very least it gives you a few hours head start. But it’s also what pilots do and they certainly know a few tricks.
- Slap on an intensive moisturiser such as Eau Thermale Avene Skin Recovery Cream, £16.50 which is one of the brand’s best sellers and ideal for flight-parched skin, especially if it gets a bit sensitive in the air. There’s also a Rich version, again £16.50, for extra dry skin and ideal for long-haul flights. For eyes, Christian Breton Anti-Fatigue Eye Care, £45 is an anti-puffiness, line-smoothing gel that even air stewardesses swear by. Of course you’ll need to cleanse first (face wipes are best for inflight cleansing) but you can apply a fresh make-up just before landing – just so that the immigration desk doesn’t reject you for not looking sufficiently like your passport photo…
- Drink lots of water. Yes, this means lots of trips up and down the aisle to the loo, but activity is good for your circulation, so do it anyway.
- Wear earplugs and eye masks to help you catch some mid-air zzzs, even if it’s only for a short nap. Besides banking a bit of energy, sleep helps your brain start believing the time on your watch.
- Follow local time as soon as you arrive (i.e. don’t go to bed too early) and use sunlight to help reset your internal ‘master clock’. This is your pineal gland, which co-ordinates circadian rhythms and also produces the hormone melatonin. So sit outside if it’s still light when you land, and/or go for a walk if you wake early, to get as much full-spectrum light as possible, preferably without sunglasses.
- Invest in a Lumie Zest, £149.99 a special clock that can help reset your circadian rhythms. For the last 15-30 minutes of sleep each morning it lights up with a “gentle sunrise” to help stimulate your waking hormones, and there’s also a bright light option that can help during the day. For more advice on jetlag management, see lumie.com/pages/jet-lag-optimiser.
- Finally, travel with aromatherapy remedies – they really do help. Try Neom Organics Perfect Night’s Sleep Pillow Mist, £20 which contains soporific lavender, soothing jasmine, calming chamomile and heady patchouli to help you get to sleep at night. During the day, switch to their Energy Boosting Home Mist, £18, to pep you up with zingy lemon and herbs.
Do you have any useful remedies for jetlag that would be of interest to our site visitors? Do comment below and let us know.
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