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How to Get Over Jet Lag
- Timed light exposure is one of the most important tools for helping your circadian rhythm adjust to a new schedule.
- Short naps, hydration, limiting alcohol and excess caffeine, and getting adequate sleep before travel can help reduce symptoms while your body adjusts.
- Melatonin may help some travelers shift their body clock, but timing matters and taking it at the wrong time can make jet lag worse.
- Gradually adjusting your sleep schedule before a trip may make the transition easier, especially when crossing several time zones.
Whether you’re traveling for business, vacation, or an athletic competition, a big trip is usually cause for excitement. Unfortunately, problems can arise from the process of traveling. When long airplane flights are involved, jet lag is frequently encountered.
Jet lag is commonly associated with international plane travel, but it can arise on any flight that goes east or west across three or more time zones. Jet lag frequently causes sleep disruptions, which can throw your body’s internal clock out of sync with the day-night cycle at your destination.
Knowing how to prevent and recover from jet lag can help you maintain your sleep schedule and overall wellness during your travels, so you can make the most of your trip.
What Is Jet Lag?
Jet lag is a disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm that occurs with plane travel across three or more time zones. Symptoms frequently include sleeping problems, daytime drowsiness, impaired mental or physical performance, general malaise, and gastrointestinal issues.
Jet lag can last from a few days to a few weeks. Although some people prefer to travel east, jet lag tends to be worse when traveling east and when a greater number of time zones are crossed.
Not everyone is affected by jet lag to the same degree. Trip itinerary and individual factors can affect the severity and duration of jet lag.
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Tips for Getting Over Jet Lag
The key to getting over jet lag is to get your body’s circadian clock aligned with the sunrise and sunset schedule at your destination. Many steps can also be taken to minimize symptoms caused by jet lag.
1. Realign Your Circadian Rhythm
Overcoming jet lag depends on getting your body’s 24-hour internal clock synchronized with the 24-hour day at your destination. However, the best way the achieve this varies, depending on factors specific to your trip:
- Whether you’re traveling east or west. Eastward travel is associated with an increased likelihood of jet lag for the majority (75%) of people, though 25% of people find it harder to travel west.
- The number of time zones crossed. Crossing more than three time zones increases the likelihood of jet lag. The greater the number of time zones crossed, the greater the jet lag.
- Total travel time, including stop-overs
- Flight arrival time
- Length of your trip (including subsequent flights)
- Your normal sleep schedule
- Plans during your trip, including any scheduled obligations
Because of these variables, there’s no single remedy for jet lag and generic advice does not work. Instead, quickly overcoming jet lag typically requires a plan that involves appropriately-timed light exposure and melatonin. Both are power influencers of the circadian rhythm and can help retrain your internal clock.
Proper timing is key to adjusting your circadian rhythm. In fact, light exposure and melatonin intake at the wrong time of the day can further desynchronize your circadian rhythm and exacerbate jet lag.
Even with a well-developed plan, you may still experience symptoms of jet lag. Every individual adjusts differently to a rapid time zone change, but working to reorient your circadian rhythm can reduce the chances that jet lag will negatively impact your trip.
2. Get Light Exposure
Light, especially natural light, has the biggest influence on circadian rhythm. Light from the sun, even on a cloudy day, is a critical signal interpreted by the brain to regulate our internal clock.
Exposure to natural light at your destination speeds up the process of acclimating to the new time zone; however, you may not want to immediately rush outside. Depending on how far you’ve traveled and the time you land, it may be better to avoid light when you first arrive and then have extended light exposure earlier the next day.
Man-made light, including electronic devices, also affects circadian rhythm. For this reason, try to avoid electric light during planned periods of darkness and sleep.
When natural light exposure isn’t an option, bright indoor lights, phones and laptops, or light therapy lamps can provide higher illuminance with a greater circadian effect.
Light avoidance, avoiding light exposure at the wrong time, is also important to prevent your clock from shifting in the wrong direction and making jet lag worse. When indicated, avoiding light can mean dimming indoor lights, avoiding use of electronic devices, or wearing sunglasses. The circadian system measures changes in light, so light avoidance does not mean darkness — just less light exposure than when advised to see light.
3. Consider Taking Melatonin
The hormone melatonin is naturally made by the body and is the biochemical signal of darkness. Melatonin production usually starts at night two to three hours before your normal bedtime. Two key functions of melatonin are helping sleep initiation and regulating your circadian rhythm.
When your circadian rhythm is disrupted by jet lag, the timing of melatonin production can be thrown off. A number of studies have found that taking low-dose (1-3mg) melatonin supplements at the right time may help realign your internal clock. Like light, melatonin can shift the clock either earlier or later and so timing is crucial.
Melatonin is sold as an over-the-counter dietary supplement available without a prescription in the U.S. In most countries, it is a prescription medication. Some prescription drugs also boost melatonin levels.
Most people can take melatonin without significant side effects, but in some people, it can cause grogginess or stomach problems and may have interactions with other medications. Some people should not take melatonin, so make sure to check the safety advice or ask your doctor. Do not take melatonin for the first time on the plane in case of unexpected reactions. As with any drug or supplement, it’s best to consult with your doctor before taking melatonin.
4. Adjust Your Sleep Schedule Before Your Trip
For many travelers, the best way to get over jet lag is to take steps to prevent it.
You can begin avoiding jet lag by gradually shifting your circadian rhythm in the one to two days leading up to the flight. Then, you’ll be more adjusted to the time zone at your destination when you arrive.
A revamped sleep schedule along with strategically timed light exposure and melatonin supplements can help adjust your circadian rhythm. These changes require careful coordination and may pose logistical challenges for many travelers. However, for people who prioritize optimal physical and mental performance after travel, such as athletes and business executives, the effort may be worth it.
5. Plan a Trip to Avoid Jet Lag
With so many factors to account for, planning to avoid jet lag can feel overwhelming. The timing of events is not intuitive, however, and it’s easy to get it wrong. Plan ahead or try an app to help create an adjusted sleep schedule.
You can also consult with your doctor, a sleep specialist, or a travel clinic for specific advice about overcoming jet lag given your travel plans and personal health history.
6. Minimize Symptoms of Jet Lag
Although you can’t fully recover from jet lag until your circadian rhythm adjusts to the new time zone, you can take practical steps to minimize symptoms. Many of these tips also cut down on travel fatigue or the dehydration and exhaustion that can occur during long trips.
- Get solid sleep before your trip: Try to start off by getting plenty of uninterrupted sleep in the nights leading up to your flight. Prioritize sleep so you can be at your best when you arrive.
- Bring helpful accessories: A sleep mask, earplugs, and comfortable clothes for sleep are examples of items that can decrease disruptions when sleeping in a new place.
- Avoid unnecessary stress: Being anxious can impede quality sleep and exacerbate symptoms of jet lag.
- Don’t over-schedule your first days: Anticipate some degree of jetlag symptoms and don’t overbook your first days at your destination. Budget enough time for sleep and keep buffers in your schedule in case you aren’t feeling well.
- Limit alcohol: Alcohol reduces the overall quality of your sleep. Therefore it’s best to cut out or limit alcohol both in-flight and after arriving.
- Don’t overdo caffeine: Caffeine can give boost alertness in the short-term, but use it in moderation. Too much caffeine can leave you jittery and may linger in your system, making it difficult to fall asleep.
- Stay hydrated: Airplane cabins can induce dehydration, so make sure to sip water before, during, and after the flight.
- Eat healthily: Stomach problems often arise from jet lag and extended plane travel, so opt for lighter meals made up mostly of fruits and vegetables to prevent gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Stretch on the plane: It’s important to stand up and move a few times to prevent muscle stiffness and reduce the risk of blood clots.
- Exercise: Exercise has beneficial effects on the mind and body, so make time to be physically active at your destination. While research is inconclusive, properly timed exercise may also help align your circadian rhythm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get over jet lag?
The amount of time it takes to get over jet lag depends on which direction you fly and how many time zones you cross. Because the body adapts more easily to later bedtimes, it’s easier to adjust to westward travel than eastward.
On average, the body adjusts to new time zones at a rate of 1.5 hours per day for westward travel, and 1 hour per day for eastward travel. For example, if you travel across six time zones, it would take about 6 days to adapt to the new time zone if you travel east, or about 4 days if you travel west
.
Why is jet lag worse coming home?
Jet lag isn’t necessarily worse coming home, but it’s harder for your body to adapt to a new time zone when traveling east than west. The body’s natural circadian rhythm is slightly longer than 24 hours, so the body adapts more quickly to going to bed a bit later each night.
Some people say that exhaustion from vacation, jumping straight back into work, or post-vacation blues can make jet lag more difficult coming home, but there’s no research supporting these factors.
Can naps help with jet lag?
A quick nap may help you overcome excess daytime sleepiness related to jet lag, but it’s important to be careful with naps. If you nap for too long or too late in the day, it may throw off your sleep schedule even more. Try to keep naps less than 30 minutes and nap at least eight or more hours before your planned bedtime.
Does melatonin help with jet lag?
According to the CDC, taking timed melatonin supplements can help with jet lag. If you’re travelling west, they recommend taking melatonin when your internal clock thinks it’s morning. For eastward travel, take it when your body thinks it’s early evening.
The CDC recommends using a small dose (around 0.5 to 1 milligram) and advises against high doses (more than 5 milligrams), which may cause excess melatonin at the wrong time of day. Melatonin is a supplement and isn’t regulated like medications by the FDA, so the actual amount of melatonin in a product may differ from what’s stated on the label.
Can other sleep aids help with jet lag?
Sleep aids other than melatonin, including both prescription sleeping pills and over-the-counter drugs, do not cure jet lag because they don’t realign your circadian rhythm and therefore will not address the underlying cause of jet lag. That said, if jet lag is causing sleep deprivation, a sleep aid may help address that symptom.
Most sleeping pills have a powerful effect that can make you feel out-of-sorts and groggy for longer than expected, including after you wake up. The risk of falls or accidents is often higher after taking sleep medications. Frequent use of sleep aids may also make it harder to recognize an ongoing case of jet lag.
Before taking any sleep aid, it’s best to consult your doctor. They can review the potential benefits and side effects and offer advice on how to safely take them, based on your specific travel plans.
Does sleeping on the plane help jet lag?
Sleeping on the plane may help jet lag if you time your sleep to the bedtime in your destination. Otherwise, the CDC recommends that you avoid sleeping during your flight and that you get up and walk around from time to time.
Do compression socks help with jet lag?
There’s no evidence compression socks help with jet lag, but it may still be a good idea to wear them during a flight, as they do improve circulation and help prevent leg swelling and symptomless blood clots (deep vein thrombosis or DVT) . Studies suggest that long flights may increase the risk of DVT, especially in people with other risk factors like pregnancy, cancer, or a family history of blood clots .
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Eric Suni has over a decade of experience as a science writer and was previously an information specialist for the National Cancer Institute.
Dr. Abhinav Singh, board certified in Sleep Medicine and Internal Medicine, is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center, which is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor at Marian University College of Medicine in Indianapolis, where he developed and teaches a Sleep Medicine rotation.
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