What is Jet Lag and what does it feel like?

[erkpod]

I'm a shiftworker. My body clock is screwed anyway...

 

[Simo]

I'm a shiftworker. My body clock is screwed anyway...

My body clock is trained to the same time every day.

I start work about 8.30 and finish at 5 every day.

I get up around 6 everyday even on Sunday's bugger

 

[JohnK]

Still not convinced about the effects of jetlag. Perhaps I am misunderstanding them.

Arrived in Thailand last week at ~2:00am and had a great time playing golf 5 days straight before New years and then another game after New years.

I have arrived back this morning and although I feel sleepy and tired I am OK. I did sleep ~4 hours on QF6 last night. Perhaps that helped.

If anything I suspect my adrenalin levels are quite high when i arrive at the destination and very low when I return at the thought of returning to work. See how we go in the morning.

 

[Baysider]

For me Jetlag is that thing where you find yourself wide awake at 2 or 3am and unable to go back to sleep, and by mid afternoon you hit the wall and struggle to keep your eyes open, then in the evening you are simply a wipeout.

 

[Hvr]

I find time differences of 3-4 hours affect me the most. When in BKK I was so tired early in the evening when it was sleeping time in Australia.

Yet when I went to the USA I was able to quickly adapt because the flight as long and I slept to wake up in the morning time at my destination.

 

[boomy]

For me Jetlag is that thing where you find yourself wide awake at 2 or 3am and unable to go back to sleep, and by mid afternoon you hit the wall and struggle to keep your eyes open, then in the evening you are simply a wipeout.

Same symptoms here. I hate the first 3 days coming back from Europe... It never happens to me on the way there, only when I'm back to Australia.

 

[drron]

For me Jetlag is that thing where you find yourself wide awake at 2 or 3am and unable to go back to sleep, and by mid afternoon you hit the wall and struggle to keep your eyes open, then in the evening you are simply a wipeout.

You are describing my normal day at home.Wake 3am,try to get back to sleep,up between 0500-0600 and nanny nap at 1430.

 

[Major]

You are describing my normal day at home.Wake 3am,try to get back to sleep,up between 0500-0600 and nanny nap at 1430.

I was just about to say the same thing

 

[jt1983]

Yep, I believe in the West issue. I need to make sure I don't confuse jet-lag for just being tired (largely because even in J I can't sleep on planes). When I went to Chicago in Nov '12 I swear I slept for 14 hours when I arrived. Travelling back, I was fine. I'm leaving London tomorrow ... but I'm breaking it up twice along the way, which definitely helps.

 

[JB83]

As I am in Prague for the majority of my year, jet lag is sleeping for 14 - 16 hours after arriving in Prague. When I get to Sydney, it is sleeping in the middle of the day (I usually arrive on the morning flights), being up at 8 pm. Awake for the next 24 hrs, then nanna nap at 5:30 pm then being up till about 2 am for the next 2 weeks. (As I am normally arriving in July, all I can say is Vive Le Tour !!!)

I have read that jet lag is worse when going from west to east, hence why people normally have it affect them less in Europe, and that normally it takes about one day per time zone crossed to get over it, but I am sure it is different for everyone. Last year, I did do two one night stopovers on my way to Sydney, I didn't find it helped at all.

Cures to avoid jet lag I have read about (not sure which ones work):
- Arrive at your destination on an evening flight
- When you are on the plane you should be in the time zone of your destination (eg. sleep when its night in your destination, etc.)
- Drink a vitamin water drink before you get on your flight to replenish electrolytes (stop dehydration), and avoid coffee and alcohol

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I think jet lag can be more noticeable for those travelling to/from Europe as when it's 0900 in LON it's about 1900 in BNE so if you've just flown in from Aust your body clock is gearing up for sleep when in the UK the day has just begun.

I know some people always tell you to stay awake however if I'm tired then I will sleep then just go to bed again when it's night time at the destination.

The most recent trip to the US BNE/LAX not much sleep only dozing before our connecting flight LAX/LAS then after lunch time arrival at the hotel had a snooze for a few hours before meeting friends for dinner that night. Went to bed about 2200 local time & woke up the next morning feeling fine.

The previous trip to LAX we didn't sleep on the BNE/LAX flight but booked the 24/24 rate at the Sheraton Four Points at LAX which gives you a 24 hour stay from your nominated time of arrival eg 0730 provided you give the hotel at least 48 hours notice.

To be able to get off a long flight get immediate check in to your hotel then have a shower and a sleep in a proper bed is bliss. After about 6 hours sleep woke up feeling totalling refreshed then we drove up to Santa Monica for dinner. Went to bed about 2200 local time.

The trick is to not stay up until 0400 using the free hotel wi-fi because you're not tired (2200 back in Aust) otherwise you'll be waking up at noon the next day.

We usually come back from the US ex HNL & as they are day flights that depart HNL mid-morning, you don't have to get up super early & you're not trying to sleep on a plane. With a late afternoon arrival next day into BNE/SYD/MEL it you've got time to get home, have dinner then go to bed. With HNL 20 hours behind Australia's East Coast, when it's 2200 in HNL on Sat it's 1800 in BNE on Sun so your body clock is not poles apart. I've never had jet lag flying back from HNL - even in whY.

If going to Europe not everyone wants to pay for their hotel room from the night prior to guarantee immediate checkin early morning so I would opt instead to stay a night in Asia on the way over then take a day flight ex Asia to Europe which means you're not trying to sleep on an overnight flight & also has you arriving late afternoon/early evening in Europe so you can checkin immediately to your hotel & go to bed just a few hours later when it's night at your destination.