Jet lag is a name for the process of disrupting your circadian rhythm. Your body works 24 hours a day and there is time to sleep, eat, work etc. Moving between time zones makes your body go crazy which results in symptoms like loss of appetite, sleeping problems, memory and concentration problems and many more. Sounds serious, right?
There is no simple answer. Every person feels jet lat differently. Even more – depending on age, health, stress level the time to recover can be changing throughout your life. But usually, it’s a day to “heal” a full-time zone travel. There are some tips how to speed things up and some stuff to avoid if you don’t wish to suffer more.
Sleep is the best cure for jet lag. But how to get a good night sleep if you’re having problems? Try to make it a habit! Use one of the apps that I recommend to practice sleeping well. As your body will get used to it, it will be easier for you to apply it during travelling or after changing time zones.
Still in beta, but worth downloading as it will have its premiere soon. Sometimes the biggest problem with sleeping are nightmares. Nightly helps you to fall asleep and dream only positive or neutral dreams. Just watch a nice and calming short movie in bed and try to drop off during a soothing sound of rain or cracking fire in a fireplace. Nightly monitors your breath and plays sounds to help you sleep calmly.
Twilight (blue light filter)One of the great problems of mobiles, computers and any other portable devices is the blue light they use to radiate. With the Twilight app, you have the chance of avoiding problems with falling asleep. You certainly know this feeling when you read in bed something on your mobile or tablet and the blue light irritates your eyes. Interfering with such light even a few hours before going to bed can make it difficult to fall asleep for an hour. This is due to the photoreceptor of melanopsin, which can inhibit the production of melatonin (a hormone responsible for sleeping and waking up) precisely because of a certain range of blue light. To avoid this, use the Twilight application that warms up your cell or tablet screen after sunset. The program works on all Android devices.
A similar f.lux application exists for computers. PS. a newer version of Android has also this option in the system.
An absolutely cosmic idea (literally!). There was a research conducted on astronauts. It turned out that it is best to sleep in 90-minute packages, with short intervals between. Sleep Genius is exactly an app to do that! 5 cycles of 90 minutes + sleep breaks. If we are to get up, at 8 a.m., we count down 7 and half hour for dreaming, 15 minutes for falling asleep and the time when we are not sleeping between the cycles (4 breaks). For a week we try falling asleep at the same time listening to specially prepared music (totally cosmic!). Over time, if we are consistent, our brain gets used to resetting with these sounds. In addition, we can play a melody to start the day – not an alarm clock that tears us out of sleep, but again, a composition that will help us get out of the deep sleep phase. You should listen to the sounds of Sleep Genius quite quietly, but on stereo. Over time, not only will you sleep better, but you will easily be able to take a nap for a moment and wake up refreshed.
Sleep as AndroidThe famous Android app. Monitors your sleep (breathing), helps you wake up at the right time (monitors when you are in deep sleep, REM ect.), can record snoring or talking oversleep. Very advanced sleep statistics, lullabies, alarm clocks, data export, various options, 14 days trial version, then ca. 4 euro (payable once). Can be connected to a smartwatch. I really enjoyed using it.
MindroidDo you need relaxation, sleep or other positive emotions? Mindroid will try to tune your brain to your needs. Put the mobile in front of your eyes, close them and start listening to the right composition. Thanks, to auditory-visual stimulation, the program tunes our brain to what we care about. Not sure if it works, but try it yourself.
There are several programs to choose from.
Every parent knows what makes his/her child go to sleep. Some need a hair dryer, other car sounds, some need mothers heartbeat. But during a trip, this can be sometimes really hard to obtain. If so, then just download Baby sleep and let it help you put your little one to bed. 14 sounds that are in the app should cover most of the queer baby lullabies. But what if yours is so unique that even the “in utero” sound can’t help you? Don’t worry! Just record the sound you need and voila! You can choose up to 8 hours of looped sound. Too short? There’s also a never-ending loop. Not sure if babies feel jet lag as same as we do, but if you wander how to fight with jet lag of your kid – that’s the best way I know.
The app also has volume buttons and a very, very important button – fly mode. That way no instant notification can wake up your baby. Just remember not to put the mobile too close to the infant. Sleep tight 😉
Do not combine work and bedroom. Generally, it’s never a good idea.
It will help monitor your sleep, work like an alarm clock or let you operate part of the application (in an example “Sleep as Android”). A well-chosen smartwatch is a nice “friend” on every hand. The most important thing is to make it compatible with your phone or tablet and support applications that interest you. You can sleep comfortably in it. I have Samsung S3.
Do you have your own tips on how to fight against jet lag?
When interested in medical issues Google always has something like WebMD (cheaper, but you always end up screwed). For those who prefer more sophisticated reading, I chose the Guardian.
Working in social media since 2006. Created her own agency called Wobuzz. Blogger at czaplicka.eu. Published a book on social media crises. Often giving lectures at conferences where she gets rewards for best speeches. Working with brands around the globe. Likes her tech.
Travels a lot! Especially workwise to big European cities.
