The Top 5 Ways to Fight Jet Lag

If international business travel is a regular part of your life, then you know that the number one issue you have to deal with is jet lag. The world's largest economies and markets are inconveniently located on opposite sides of the ocean. If your company has intentions or relationships beyond your own backyard, then you need to spend time face-to-face with these folks. Which means you have to figure out what to do about your brain being mush during normal waking hours. I've tried everything you can think of, and after hundreds of trips I finally have come up with a system that works:

1. Keep yourself well-hydrated on the flight over. The inside of a flight cabin is one of the driest places you'll ever encounter, and it's important to keep up with the water every chance you get. Otherwise you'll have headaches and muscle aches that will make your jet lag just that much more miserable after you arrive.

2. Stay awake the first day. If you land sometime during the day (and it always seems like I arrive somewhere between 8 am and 3 pm), then do not go lie down and take a nap after you check-in to the hotel. This will totally scramble your wake-sleep pattern and you'll regret it later that night and the next day. Instead, make yourself stay awake by taking a shower, going for a walk, doing some sightseeing, etc. Use the buddy system if possible for support during weak moments. Make yourself stay up until 9 pm. It will be hard, but it's worth it. Then you've got a good shot at sleeping through the night and waking somewhat fresh the next day.

3. Have an alcoholic drink with dinner or after dinner. The hectic pace of travel and the unfamiliar surroundings and culture shock will all work to keep your head spinning. You'll be keyed up for hours after you finally get some time to yourself, so give yourself permission to unwind a bit with a beer or cocktail. It's dehydrating, I know, but the benefit outweighs the risk here. Just don't overdo it. And make sure you top off with water before you go to bed.

4. Take an Ambien before you go to bed. It's guaranteed to put you down and keep you down for a good 5-6 hours. If you don't take something like this, then your body clock will work against you and you'll be wide awake at 2 am and unable to get back to sleep. This is a prescription medicine, so you'll have to see a doctor first (which is good, because I'm not a doctor and you need a medical professional to tell you this is ok for you). Please don't cheat and bum some off someone else.

5. Drink caffeine whenever you need it during the day. You know your own tolerance for caffeine, so don't go nuts with this. But at the same time, don't feel like you need to be strict with yourself either. If you're head is getting fuzzy, reach for the coffee, tea, or cola and get that little boost. Even if it's 3 pm and you normally don't have caffeine at that time, go for it anyway. When the urge to sleep hits you in the much-too-warm conference room filled with high-ranking guests, the bigger sin is to nod off and embarrass everybody.

Sometimes you'll hear advice about eating specific kinds of foods, or taking melatonin, or getting light to shine on you at certain times. Been there, done that, doesn't work. I'm not saying it won't work for you, but these are things that I just can't recommend. Try the routine I've outlined above. You won't be performing at the top of your game, but you'll be functional and effective, which is the best you can hope for on your overseas business trips.

About the Author:

Shaun Mangan is the co-founder of M&W Traveler, a Business Travel Outfitter dedicated to providing tough leather gear with classic good looks. Find out more about M&W Traveler and get your FREE leather keyring at http://www.mw-traveler.com/.

(c) Copyright 2009 - Shaun A. Mangan.

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