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I have made many, many trips across the water – both the Atlantic and Pacific – and have found that following a few simple suggestions can make the flight seem shorter and lessen your feeling of “jet lag” after you arrive. I always follow these tips and have found that I have usually been able to enjoy a full day the day I arrive. Click on the links below to help you get ready for your trip, getting everything together (such as packing), and then the actual flight overseas and the flight back. |
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Getting
Ready...
The two or three weeks before you leave the states can be very important.
Keep in good health, get plenty of sleep, and “take your vitamins.” As
you get closer to the day you will depart you should try and adjust your
sleeping and eating pattern just a bit so you will not have such a large
adjustment after you actually arrive in Europe. I try to get my body ready
by progressively going to bed a little earlier and getting up a little
earlier each evening about a week or so before I am ready to go. By the
time my day for departure arrives I am normally getting to bed about seven
or so and getting up sometime between 3 or 4 a.m. I just plan my days a
little differently and usually find that there is normally not too much
of a disruption in my normal schedule. I also adjust my eating patterns
accordingly and try to eat well-balanced meals and meals that are not to
“heavy.” I also try and make sure I have been drinking plenty of fluids.
Particularly water and juices – not soft drinks, coffee or tea, or alcohol.
And, for two days before the flight, try and stay off of colas, coffee
or tea, and alcohol as much as possible.
Getting
Set...
I like to pack a backpack just for the airplane. This backpack then
becomes my day pack when I am in Europe. What follows is what I normally
pack in my backpack.
- Change of clothing to include underwear and socks and an extra shirt. This can really come in handy if you are heading to Paris and your luggage goes to Rome!
- Medications to include any prescriptions I am taking as well as the over-the-counter items I do not like to be separated from.
- My “travel” shaving kit. (Ladies should put together a small cosmetic kit and remember any personal hygiene items they might need.)
- Snacks and gum. Stay away from the “salty stuff.” Things such as breakfast bars are good as are hard candies.
- Water. Do not take one of those huge things. I normally take about 3 or 4 small bottles.
- Reading materials, crosswords, or other things to do.
- A blindfold and ear plugs. I like the soft foam ear plugs.
- A sweater or light jacket.
| The contents of my backpack are determined by two factors. The first factor is simply packing anything I believe I might need during the flight. The second factor is what I call the “lay over problem.” With over booking by airlines, weather and mechanical delays, and any of the other things that can “go wrong,” you should always have something with you just in case you are faced with a delay in your trip. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, slacks or a skirt that is comfortable and will go with the change you have in your backpack, and any of your prescription medications you are currently taking. I also keep a copies of my prescriptions, passport, birth certificate, and any other important documents I believe I may need. |
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| As soon as you are comfortably situated on the airplane, check with one of the flight attendants and find out what time it is at your destination. Then, set your watch to that time and try – as much as possible – to “live” on that time during your flight. Then, as soon as you can, put on your blindfold and stick in those earplugs and try to take a short nap before dinner. I always try to get a window seat so people will not be stepping over me to get out and I can rest my head against the side of the plane. Normally, as I have already adjusted my sleeping pattern quite a bit, I can get about an hour or so of rest before they begin to serve dinner. |
I always eat the dinner meal, even if I am not particularly hungry. After eating, I get up and head for the lavatory and freshen up a bit. Then I take a little time to walk around a bit and do some stretching exercises. People sometimes think I am a little crazy but this never bothers me as I know I will probably feel better than they will tomorrow. Then it is back to my seat and on with the blindfold and earplugs again. I never watch the movie or any of that other “stuff” they try and keep you occupied with. I can watch the movie when I get home. I always check with the flight attendant and find out when the will be serving breakfast and asked to be awakened about 45 minutes to an hour before they plan to serve the meal. Then – I sleep as much as I possibly can. I normally take off my shoes, loosen my belt a bit, and make sure my seat belt is fastened and in a comfortable position on my body. Then I wrap myself in the blanket they provide being sure that my feet are completely wrapped within the blanket. You want to sleep with your feet warm and your head cool.
When the flight attendant wakes me up I immediate get up and head for the lavatory to freshen up for the day. I wash and shave, put on fresh deodorant, and change my underwear and socks. You will be surprised how much better you will feel. (NOTE: be sure you have places a zipper-type plastic bag in your backpack in which to place your dirty cloths.) After getting ready for the day I do a few more stretching exercises and walk a little bit. And, as I have not had any coffee during the flight (Only drink water or juice during the flight – never drink colas, coffee, tea, or alcohol – so you can keep your body from becoming dehydrated.), I ask the flight attendant for a morning cup of coffee and enjoy drinking my coffee while I watch my fellow passengers try to wake up and begin facing the day.
After arriving at your destination, try to keep going until the local normal time to retire. I know that this is sometimes rather difficult. However, just try to keep going. The worst thing you can do is head to your hotel and sleep for a while. You are much better off walking a bit, doing some shopping or light sightseeing or something, then eating dinner at the normal time for the locals, and then head back to your room to retire for the evening. If you have followed the advice above for the flight, your body will be able to do this quite naturally and you will be surprised how little you will suffer from the flight the next day. And, make your first day (the first full day at your destination) an easy day getting back to your hotel rather early and getting to bed a little bit earlier than you did the night before.
I have been using these tips for many years and have found that I always seem to enjoy my first day overseas a lot more than most other people. And, as I have a “good” day my first day, it is almost like having an extra day on the trip.
Coming back does always seem to be the hard part. It seems that we always are more tired when we are "chasing the sun." Here is what is happening to your body.
Say you are traveling from London to Atlanta (where I live). You leave London about 10:00 am and everything seems about normal. However, it is already getting late in the afternoon in Atlanta. By the time you get onto the plane, get settled, and have your meal -- it is after dinner time in Atlanta. Then, because you are very much "keyed" up because of your trip, thinking about all of the things you need to do when you return, wondering about work, family, and such -- it is pretty hard to sleep so you watch the movie. Soon after the movie they serve a snack and you think you might just as well eat a little something. By now it is midnight at home and you are beginning to get a little tired. However, you will be landing in about two hours and they are handing out paperwork for you to do. Might just as well stay up. Before long you are landing, greeting everyone, and going out to eat again. By the time you get home, unpack, get settled in, and get to bed (at your normal time) it is really early morning for your body. Therefore you do not get a good nights rest. I think you have the picture.
What I try and do is plan my last two days in Europe so they will be relaxing. Most people try to cram as much in as possible so they can do "everything" before they leave. I never plan anything at night the last two days. And, I eat the evening meal quite early, spend some time for a walk, and then get to bed early. This really does not "adjust" my body clock, but it does make me relaxes when I get on the plane. When I get on the plane I again set my watch to local time. In fact, I pretend I am getting on the plane about 5:00, read a little bit, and get some sleep. I even often skip the airline meal opting instead to eat a pretty good "lunch" before I leave the airport. I also skip the movie and do eat the snack before landing. Usually I get about three hours sleep during the flight. Then, after we land, my family knows that all I want to do is head for home and get to bed. I do not eat anything again until the next morning.
The first day back is still rather hard as I tend to be up the following morning about 3 or 4 a.m. But, by planning my day pretty well and not trying to "catch up everything" the first day I am back; I am normally back to where I should be by the second day. I also plan on nothing to do the evening of my first day back. It is simply back home after work, a "light" dinner, and early to bed.
I also used to have about a three or four day adjustment period. Now, doing the things above, I have cut it down to about a day. However, there is still that tired feeling for several days. I actually believe this is more emotional than physical and that is why I attempt to keep my demands at a minimum when I return. The family can just wait until the weekend for the pictures.
If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, please let me know. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
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