Jet lag hacks: how to bounce back faster after long flights

For those who travel a lot, especially in the aviation world, jet lag can be a real pain. If you’re a pilot with crazy schedules or a business traveler zipping across time zones, fighting jet lag is super important. This piece will share some great tips to help you bounce back quickly after those long flights. It’ll be especially helpful for airlines and flight crew.

Airlines can support their employees in recovering from jet lag by utilizing ACMI leasing services. While ACMI services themselves don’t directly address jet lag, they can have an indirect positive effect by allowing for more flexible scheduling. Many ACMI providers offer adaptable leasing options, which enable airlines to optimize flight schedules and crew rotations. This flexibility helps mitigate extreme jet lag scenarios and improves overall crew management.

Moreover, when airlines use ACMI services, they often gain access to crews who are specifically trained for certain routes and time zones. These specialized crews are adept at managing the unique challenges of different flight patterns, which can help reduce the impact of jet lag. ACMI services offer both long-term and short-term leasing options, allowing airlines to select a plan that fits their needs and budget. For example, airlines like GetJet Airlines offer comprehensive ACMI solutions to help optimize crew efficiency and recovery.

As for the tips, start changing your sleep to match where you’re going a few days before you leave. You can set your phone or watch in the new time zone and follow it. What does this mean? If it’s night in your future time zone, sleep during that time. Doing this can aid your body in preparing before your departure.

Staying hydrated is super important! Start drinking more water 24 hours before you fly — trust me on this one! Being hydrated makes it easy for your body to adapt and feel better. Try getting a bottle that keeps track of how much water you take to keep you motivated.

During the flight, don’t just sit. Instead, do some in-seat stretches and walk around when it’s safe. Exercising and moving around can help improve your energy levels. Doing a few stretches when you wake up can also boost your energy level.

Apart from shifting your sleep time, you should also try to adapt your meal time. So, try to eat at the normal time of your future time zone. Doing so helps activate and slow down your digestive system at the proper times. This effectively signals your body’s internal clock the new schedule it should adopt. However, stay away from heavy meals when it’s almost your new bedtime because it can affect your sleep.

Try to skip alcohol and coffee while on the plane and when you arrive at your destination. Why? Both can mess with your sleep and make you even more dehydrated. So, be careful of what you eat and drink. Consume things that will help you get better sleep.

Want to overcome jet lag and bounce back immediately? Try out these tips and tweak them accordingly to what works best for you and your job needs. That way, you will be able to cut down on how much jet lag messes with your day-to-day life.