Finally! You’ve reached your destination for a well-deserved vacation. Your dreams of waking up to the sound of Boracay beach waves and sunlight hitting your face is now a reality.
Then jet lag hits you.
Daytime fatigue, disturbed sleep, difficulty in concentrating or functioning, as well as stomach pain are some of the common jet lag symptoms and are common occurrences when you travel halfway across the world.
But don’t let jet lag spoil your vacation. While jet lag doesn’t require treatment, there are ways you can alleviate your crankiness and enjoy the special moment you are about to have.
Read below for tips and ways to cure jet lag.
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Jet lag occurs when our circadian rhythm is not in sync with the external physical environment. The rapid travel across different time zones can cause this problem as our body takes time to adapt to the time zone we are in.
To prevent this, slowly adjust your body clock to adapt to the timezone of your destination. Try sleeping and waking up an hour earlier if you're traveling to Alta Vista De Boracay from the west a few days before your flight.
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Turmeric contains curcumin which is an antioxidant and can help alleviate headaches that may result from long-haul flights and differences in timezone.
Not only will it help you get over jet lag, but it also comes with a lot of proven health benefits you wouldn’t want to miss.
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Feeling like you need a quick nap in the middle of the day? Or are you craving for a snack before proper mealtime?
Force your body to resist temptations. Wait for the proper bedtime before dozing off instead of taking an afternoon nap. At the same time, though it may be hard to resist the sumptuous meals you can have in Boracay, try to avoid having a snack outside your set meal time.
Your body needs your discipline to adapt to the new timezone.
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During a long-haul travel, we have a tendency to be dehydrated and feel exhausted.
What better way to solve this problem in a tropical island than having a sip of fresh coconut juice?
Coconut juice (or coconut water) contains electrolytes and sugar that can rehydrate you well enough and avoid feeling tired and cranky. What’s more, coconut juice has a lot of other health benefits, and you can virtually have as much as you want without worrying about losing your beach body since it has a lower calorie count compared to most sports drinks.
Want to know how to recover from jet lag without taking over-the-counter medicines? The answer is to go bananas.
Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium which helps ease muscle cramps and can provide you energy to face the day under the warm sun without feeling sleepy. Bananas are also rich in serotonin - a hormone that can improve your overall mood. While the serotonin in Bananas is not enough to wash away your blues, it can help your brain produce more of it to make your mood a little better.
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The difference in time zones might make it hard to sleep at night when our body is still accustomed to our origin’s time zone.
Luckily, there’s a way on how to overcome jet lag by getting the right amount of sleep at the right time - drinking lemon water.
Lemon aids in alkalizing our body which means we can sleep better at night, even when our body is telling us to get up and walk. If you don’t feel like drinking lemon water before bedtime, you can simply suck on a slice of lemon and get the same results.
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Feeling sleepy and tired is expected after traveling halfway across the world. But if you land in the morning, it is not advisable to give in and doze off. Instead, it’s better to force your body to get accustomed to your current time zone.
But how can you do it after an energy-draining flight?
Take a cold shower, and you’ll immediately feel energized and ready to enjoy the day. This is because cold water can expand blood vessels and get your heart to pump more blood to your body making you feel energized.
And since you’re already at the beach, why not take a dip in the blue waters and enjoy the sun at the same time?
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Dark chocolate reduce stress hormones that will inevitably increase during your travel. Eating some during and after your flight can help alleviate your irritability and crankiness so you can enjoy your vacation better.
This is due to chocolate’s main ingredient: cacao. That’s why darker chocolates are recommended since it has a higher percentage of cacao and has less added sugar.
However, the best option for you will be to drink a cup of natural cacao drink from the island. This ensures you get a higher percentage of cacao, less sugar, and no artificial flavorings.
Ask around where you can get a fresh cup and you won’t have a hard time finding one.
Exercise may be the last thing on your mind after an energy-draining flight. However, a quick and light workout can help you feel energized by increasing your heart rate to give you a boost you need to enjoy the day.
Once you land, take a walk along the beach barefoot. This will relax your feet after a long time of wearing closed shoes.
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Since our circadian rhythm is strongly influenced by light exposure, basking in the sun is a good idea to help your body adjust to your new time zone. Once you get to your hotel room, you can open the windows and allow natural light to come in and help your eyes adjust slowly to the bright sky.
Once you’ve settled, take a walk along the beach so you can get the benefits of both exercise and sunlight exposure at the same time.
Of course, a breath of fresh ocean breeze won’t hurt either.
You’ve traveled halfway across the world to reward yourself with a well-deserved vacation. Don’t let jet lag spoil the fun and rob you of this precious moment.