Category: Travel

Traveling is fun and adventurous, but jet lag can put a damper on your trip if you don’t know how to take care of it the right way. If you have kids with you, you want to be able to keep up with them and do all kinds of fun things together. You can’t do much if jet lag has taken over you.  As for those frequent flyers that travel a lot for business, jet lag can also affect you especially if you are tired and “out of it” that can put a damper on business. It is important to learn how to handle your Jet Lag whether traveling for fun or for business. In this post I will provide a few simple and easy steps to help you combat jet lag that will get you feeling back to normal in no time!

Prepare for the time zone change:  It is always good to start early to help your body adjust to the different time zones. Start by going to sleep an hour earlier or later (depending on where you are going) a few days before you go to get your body used to the new time zone. Helping your body staying rested will help lower the symptoms of Jet Lag.

 

Plane Ride: Once you are on the plane headed to your destination, act as if you are already there. First, it will help if you set your watch to the time zone that you are headed to. This will help you get an idea and adjust to when you should eat or sleep. Next, find out if it will be daylight or nighttime when you arrive. If it will be daylight do what you can to keep yourself awake on the plane, if it is nighttime try to take a nap. Items to help you sleep on the plane can include: bringing your own blanket, your fantastic pillow from home, eye mask, and ear plugs.  Also, eat as if you were already there. You want to start as soon as possible to act like you are already there, Jet Lag doesn’t just affect your sleeping schedule it affects your digestive schedule as well.  Even snacking on the plane if you are not super hungry will help you out a lot.

Natural Light: Natural light will help your body adjust to the time zone change as well, so it is best to remain active when you first get there. Go explore and do outside activities especially on the first day.  If you feel like you must take a nap, only take a 30 minute one since anything longer will make the jet lag worse.  If you are on a business trip and don’t have time to do outdoor activities, try to take a brisk walk, even opening the curtains in your hotel room will help. The point is to get the most amount of sunlight you can.

 

Melatonin: It is not a bad idea to bring some Melatonin with you on your trip. Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces when you are ready to go to sleep. Taking Melatonin around the time you want to go to sleep (especially if it is earlier than your used to) will help you fall asleep to keep you in the changed time zone. This will also help to alleviate jet lag symptoms.

 

Exercise and Eating Schedule:  Exercising early in the morning will help get your blood flowing and wake you up.  It doesn’t have to be a hard core work out, just a brisk walk or jog will do the trick. Also, eating a high protein breakfast will help out a lot.  At night, exercise is a good idea as well. A tough work out a few hours before you go to bed will help your body mellow down and allow you to fall asleep.  Now as to your eating schedule, try to eat during eating times in the time zone you are in and not your normal schedule. The best thing to do when you first get there is to eat light meals until your digestive system can get used to your new schedule. Oh, and one last thing to remember, stay hydrated!  If you are dehydrated it will most definitely affect your trip. Dehydration can give you stomach problems that can ruin your fun. Just be sure to drink a lot of water and try not to drink a ton of alcohol and caffeine, which I know can be hard especially if you are on vacation and all you want to do is have fun!

Traveling can be exhausting and take a major toll on you!  Just by using a few of these simple steps you will notice a major difference in how you feel while traveling.  Enjoy your adventures by feeling good and aware of everything going on around you, rather than feeling tired and bogged down.

Blog post author: Ali, Customer Service Rep

Traveling is so much fun, especially when you are with your loved ones. Everyone knows that with all these new rules in place, it can be pretty challenging to get everything ready for your trip. However for the frequent traveler it is easier because they are constantly going in and out of airports. My best friend is one of these frequent travelers and I always have such a hard time trying to figure out what to buy her for her birthday and Christmas. Thankfully there are multiple gifts you can give them, but I have chosen my top 5 favorite gifts that are perfect for the frequent traveler in your life.

1. The Apple IPod/IPad: Now I know what most of you are thinking, why on earth would I buy an IPod or IPad, they are super expensive. While yes they are expensive they are perfect for the frequent traveler, they are small, convenient, and of course help pass the time (especially if you don’t like who you are sitting next to). These little beauties range anywhere from $50 for the IPod Shuffle to $800 for the 64 GB IPad and can be bought at www.apple.com or any major electronics retailer.

2. Boarding Pass Holder: A boarding pass holder is perfect because it gives you the ability to show all your necessary documents without having to dig through your carry on, because there is always that one person (it’s usually me) that has to dig through everything to find their boarding pass. A place for your ID and Passport make it easy to go right through security. These are $10 (such an awesome deal!) from www.travelonbags.com and come in a variety of colors and patterns, for every taste.

 

3. A neck pillow, eye mask, and blanket: When most of us are traveling, we sometimes forget that we are going to be on a plane sitting for an extended period of time, and we want to be comfortable (we all know those airplane seats are not the most comfortable). A neck pillow will give your neck the perfect support so that you don’t get a crick in your neck. A blanket is a great gift option! Airplanes tend to be a little colder because of the pressurized air in the cabin. An eye mask is perfect for those travelers who fly the overnight flights, allowing them to get some shut eye (I love mine, and I don’t even travel that much!). This Nap Gift Set for Travel from www.brookstone.com is $64.98 comes with all three.

4.  A luggage scale: A luggage scale is an absolute must for any frequent traveler! The airlines a few years ago came up with the brilliant (not really!) idea that in if we charge for checked bags over a certain weight, we can offset our fuel costs. This did not boast well for the American travelers (How am I going to get all my shoes in my bag?). By having a luggage scale you can avoid paying the fees associated with your suitcase being over the recommended weight! This Balanzza Ergo Scale (I love the green color!) is $24.95 from www.balanzzastore.com.

5. A unique luggage tag: Everyone knows that baggage claim is quite a pain. All the suitcases look exactly the same. Aside from completely purchasing a brand new luggage set (they are just so gosh darn expensive!). A luggage tag can take care of this. They come in different designs and colors making them a great addition to any bland/boring suitcase. These are great for if your luggage mysteriously disappears. This coated canvas luggage tag with a colorful mosaic design is from www.tepperjacksononline.com, and goes for $19.50 (I love the colors and price!).

There are numerous gifts that you can get a frequent traveler, but you must also remember that each person has their own unique style. I think I may have finally figured out what to get my friend for her next birthday. Hope everyone has a wonderful day, and don’t forget to drop by PacificPillows.com for all your needs!! Happy Gift Hunting!

Blog Author: Christina, Product Editor