“There is no research that indicates that jet lag affects men any differently than women.”Dr. Robert Pomahac, MaxHealth LA FounderDr. Robert Pomahac, founder of the Los Angeles-based wellness center MaxHealth LA, crushed our collective dreams when he told me, “There is no research that indicates that jet lag affects men any differently than women.” This means that we can’t claim we get it worse when we return from that romantic Euro vacation.
He did, however, offer a few more tips for recovery:
Change your eating habits
“Two days prior to your flight, start eating six smaller meals instead of the usual three large meals,” Pomahac says. “This will allow your metabolism to get used to frequent sources of energy and it won’t rely on your hungry time clock to recall when you are supposed to be eating breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Meditate
“Flying is stressful, so get into a regular routine of meditation. Small increments of relaxed breathing for only five minutes will calm your brain down and slow down your internal clock,” he says.
Wear layers
“Wear clothing that makes you comfortable and don’t overheat,” Pomahac says. “The ideal temperature for sleep is 68 degrees. Wear layers so you can adapt to the plane’s temperature. You can download a thermostat app on your phone.”
Sleep expert Dr. Robert Rosenberg has addressed the topic of jet lag frequently throughout his career and authored the book author of “Sleep Soundly Every Night Feel Fantastic Every Day.” He offers some tips to ensure your sleep patterns catch up with the time change.
Go to bed earlier or later, depending on which way you’re traveling
“If you are travelling east, I recommend you start going to bed and waking up one hour earlier each day for three days,” Rosenberg says. “If you’re traveling west, it’s just the opposite.
Try to get a flight that lands in the early evening
“If you land early in the day and are tired, consider a short nap of two hours but no more than that and not after4 pm at your destination. If you extend it, this will decrease your drive to fall asleep that night in your new destination and make matters worse.”
Consider taking a low doses of melatonin
If your physician approves, Dr. Rosenberg suggests taking a low dose of melatonin for a few days at about a half hour before bedtime at your destination for two or three nights.
