travel tips: jet lag

when we got back from europe last month,

we had to get right back in the swing of things..

finishing our move, catching up at work, 

a visit to napa, and lots of visitors on the way. 

no time to catch up on sleep! because of this, 

i had to be smart about minimizing jet lag and 

taking care of my body so i could handle it all! i've 

had some trips where the jet lag wasn't too bad, 

but i've had other times with terrible jet lag (including 

fainting after returning from china...) jet lag can range 

from feeling drowsy to being up all night, to extreme 

thirst, to night sweats. we want to feel as good as possible 

when landing in a new country and returning home from 

an international trip. i've already done a post on flying smart, 

but i thought it was about time to do a post with some quick 

jet lag tips. so here are just a few! they won't stop jet lag, 

it is just one of those things that comes with this travel 

thing we love...but they should help minimize it! 

• DRINK WATER! i already try to drink lots of water every day, but it's especially important to hydrate before a long flight that will dehydrate you. continue drinking lots of water after landing as well! eat healthy and take care of your body from the start. avoid caffeine/alcohol because they just dehydrate you more.
• when you board a flight, set your watch or phone to the time at the destination so you get your mindset into that time and can try to sleep accordingly.
• spend time outside in the sunshine and fresh air when you arrive. this tells your body that it's time to be awake!
• depending on when you arrive at your destination, try your best to stay awake and go do something until night time when everyone else falls asleep. growing up on every international trip my dad would FORCE us to stay awake until nighttime in the new place...it was so hard!! when i went on my study abroad i landed in paris and went to the hotel and decided since it was my first international trip alone, i would let myself sleep for an hour or two....my friend and i woke up 7 hours later right when it was time to go to bed in france! we were up that ENTIRE night and it took us a lot longer to adjust. lesson learned, dad! :) try to wait until around 9:00 pm to sleep wherever you are. 
• use a jet lag app like jetlag genie or jet-lag rescue. 
• some people take a dose of melatonin when it's time to sleep. i've heard good things, but i've never tried this myself. 
• if you're preparing for an international trip ahead of time, you can adjust your sleep schedule one hour per day the week before. if you'll be flying east, adjust your sleep schedule one hour earlier each day. if you're going west, adjust your sleep schedule one hour later each day. this is for hard core people, i've never done this but it would sure help!
• get "earthed."  seriously, connect with the ground. take off your shoes and dig your feet into the sand/grass/ground and connect with the earth where you are. it sounds strange, but it's the jet lag secret to getting on a new time zone + connecting with a new place.
• be positive! let's be honest...despite these tips, jet lag can happen and it doesn't feel good. in these moments, stay positive and remember WHY you have jet lag...because you've been lucky enough to be on a long flight across time zones to a different & beautiful place! this thought will help you get through it.

^^ having a cute + comfy travel outfit 

helps so that you can sleep & relax on the 

flight, but be ready to go when you land!

^^ remember..jet lag = worth it :)

it means you're going 

somewhere new and far from home. 

^^ lots of {healthy} snacks help!

eat little meals to give your body energy.

^^ airport hydrating

^^ and, have a cute boy around to

carry your bags so you can save energy :)

comment with any other tips you have to 

lessen jet lag! i'd love to know!

xo

ps...speaking of flying,

loved this clip that chase sent me...it's so true!

every single time i fly i am baffled that we 

are casually flying through the sky and landing 

across the world. it's incredible. let's not forget 

that, even when it doesn't go perfectly!

pps... look at these "dirty little secrets"

told by airline pilots + flight attendants

all about flying. good to know! article here.