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Expert Q&A
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| By James Feldman (a.k.a. Doctor Travel) Certified Facilitator | ||
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What is jet lag?
Jet lag is a physical condition when the body's inner clock and the outside world are not in sync. When you cross time zones, your body needs time to adjust -- usually one day per time zone crossed. With jet lag, you feel tired and can make mistakes in driving, counting currency and other aspects of daily life. There are ways to help ""push"" your body into a new time zone. First, try to cut back on caffeine use prior to your trip. Second, adjust your watch and tell yourself you are in the destination time as soon as you board the plane. If it's 5 p.m. where you live, but 10 p.m. at the destination, start getting ready to go to sleep. Close the shades, use earplugs, pillow, eyeshades, and close your eyes. Don't eat the dinner offered on the plane because it's bedtime. When you arrive, resist putting yourself in the old time, and stay awake if it's daytime in the destination. If you give yourself a day or two to adjust when crossing several time zones, you'll feel better.
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