Conquering Jet Lag

The jet lag is a syndrome caused by a mixture of fatigue and other symptoms caused by crossing different time zones on a long transmeridian (east–west or west–east) trips in a relatively short period of time.

Conquering Jet Lag

1.  Try to pick flights that you land in the early afternoon. When you get to the hotel, grab something to eat and head out for a walk around town. Plan on an early dinner and early bedtime -but no naps for kids or adults (babies should nap as necessary).

2. The first day is usually filled with the excitement of being in a new place – capitalize on this by scheduling time to explore the city. A good combination of walking and riding will help work off the excitement without having people tire too quickly.

3. The second full day is always the worst. Make it an easy day – no early morning or evening plans. This is a great day to hit a local park, zoo or aquarium. Expect tired (and fussy) kids and a lack of patience from the adults and try to mitigate it with fun activities and frequent snacks. Giving kids a little space (such as solo baths) will also help prevent bickering.

4. Meals are tricky as you transition through time zones. Be sure to have plenty of sweet and savory snacks on hand for off-hour hunger (including in the middle of the night!). Try to plan for more frequent, smaller meals (afternoon tea or quick stops in a pub make Europe perfect for this tip!).

5. Consider the time change when planning outings. For example, when traveling to Europe from Canada, you are likely to awaken earlier than normal. Plan for this by booking tours early.

6. Use the sun – kids naturally feel more awake when the sun is shining. Use this to your advantage by getting up with the sun and going to bed with the sun (especially in the summer).