The 1 Thing You Should Never Do On A Plane If You Want To Avoid Jet Lag

Jet lag is arguably one of the worst parts of long distance traveling.From insomnia and fatigue to digestive issues and overall emotional instability, few travelers can say they haven’t felt the effects of jet lag at some point.Due to the disruption of the body’s natural circadian rhythm (or sleep-wake cycle), jet lag takes a toll on the body, and it only gets worse the farther you travel.

While it’s inevitable that you’ll experience jet lag when traveling long distances, there are some steps you can take to mitigate its effects.Usually, this starts with what you do on the airplane.

To find out about these behaviors, we turned to experts who travel for a living.Here’s what they had to say:

Their main advice is to avoid dehydrating drinks.

When you’re getting ready to go on vacation, it’s only natural to want to celebrate.But according to Jay Robert, a digital creator and senior flight attendant with nearly 20 years of experience in the airline industry, avoiding dehydrating beverages like alcohol and coffee is the key to alleviating the annoying symptoms of jet lag.

French flight attendant Laurianne Harel agrees that if you want to manage jet lag, it’s best to avoid anything that could lead to dehydration on an airplane.

According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydration can worsen the physical symptoms of jet lag, such as drowsiness.Caffeine and alcohol can also disrupt sleep, so even if you manage to get some sleep on the flight, the quality of your sleep may not be great.Meanwhile, staying hydrated has been shown to promote better rest.

What else can you do to deal with jet lag?

While avoiding dehydrating beverages and eating dehydrating foods will help you successfully manage your jet lag reaction, there are other things you can do to feel more energized while on vacation or when you get home.

Regular exercise helps improve sleep, even if it means squeezing in a quick workout at the hotel gym.The night before a flight, Harrell always tries to get enough sleep.

You should also try getting sunlight during the day, which helps keep your sleep cycle regular.

Finally, upon landing, Harrell makes sure to stretch and drink plenty of water to rehydrate from the flight.This helps her feel refreshed and energized and avoids any naps that might further disrupt her circadian rhythm.

Let’s be honest: you’re always going to feel at least a little uncomfortable when you arrive in a new place with a vastly different time zone.But hydrating on an airplane can go a long way toward helping you feel a lot better when you land, and it might even give you the energy to avoid dozing off, which can be even more out of whack.