What jet lag is (and why we feel it)
Jet lag happens when our body clock (also called our circadian rhythm) doesn’t match the local time where we’ve landed. Our bodies like patterns: light in the morning, darkness at night, meals at roughly the same times, and sleep that follows a steady routine. When we cross several time zones quickly, our body clock is still running on “home time” while the world around us has moved on.
That mismatch can show up as tiredness, trouble sleeping, headaches, brain fog, low mood, hunger at odd times, or an upset stomach. Jet lag isn’t a weakness or a lack of willpower. It’s a normal response to fast travel, and it usually improves as our body clock catches up.
In this guide to jet lag remedies, we’ll walk through simple steps you can take before, during and after your flight to reduce symptoms, sleep better and adjust to a new time zone faster.
What we can do before we fly
The easiest wins often happen before we even get to the airport. If we can spare a few days, we can start shifting our sleep schedule in small steps.
If we’re travelling east (where local time will be later than our body expects), we can try going to bed and waking up a bit earlier each day. If we’re travelling west, we can do the opposite and shift a bit later. Even 30–60 minutes per day can help.
We can also prepare by:
- booking the first day as a lighter day if possible
- packing sleep basics (eye mask, earplugs, pillow) where we can reach them
- planning how we’ll handle light and naps after landing (more on that below)
Choosing a daytime vs nighttime flight
When we have options, flight timing can change how jet lag feels.
A night-time flight can work well if we can sleep on planes. It lines up with our normal sleep window and can help us land ready to stay awake through the new day. The risk is that if we don’t sleep, we arrive already running on empty.
A daytime flight can suit us better if we rarely sleep on planes. We can stay awake, then aim for sleep at a normal local bedtime after landing. The risk here is arriving at night feeling wired, then sleeping poorly.
There’s no perfect choice. The goal is to arrive with the best chance of following local time straight away.
What we can do on the plane
Long-haul flights can make sleep hard, but we can set ourselves up for better rest.
Sleep kit matters. An eye mask, neck pillow, and noise-cancelling headphones (or earplugs) can reduce light and sound. Comfortable layers help because cabin temperatures change.
Set our clock to local time early. Once we board, we can switch our watch/phone to the destination time and start thinking in that schedule. It’s a simple mental cue that helps us decide when to try sleeping and when to stay awake.
Use naps with purpose. If it’s “night time” at our destination during the flight, we can try to sleep more. If it’s “daytime” at our destination, short naps (20–40 minutes) can take the edge off without wrecking sleep later.
What we should do on arrival
After we land, our main job is to help our body clock match local time.
If we arrive during the day, we can try to stay awake until a reasonable bedtime. A short nap can be okay if we really need it, but keeping it short (about 20–30 minutes) is often better than a long sleep that steals the night.
If we arrive at night, we can aim to sleep close to local bedtime even if we don’t feel tired. A calm routine helps here (dim lights, warm shower, reading, slow breathing).
Natural light is a powerful reset tool. Getting outside can help our brain understand the new day. Morning light is often useful when we need to shift earlier, and late afternoon light can help when we need to shift later. We don’t need to overthink it: spending time outdoors in daylight is a good default.
Sleep routines that help us adjust
Jet lag often improves faster when we keep sleep steady.
We can support sleep by:
- going to bed and waking up at the same time each day (as much as we can)
- keeping the room cool, dark, and quiet
- avoiding heavy meals right before bed
- using earplugs or white noise if we’re in a noisy area
- keeping screens and bright light low for the last hour before sleep
It also helps to accept that the first couple of nights may be uneven. Chasing perfect sleep can make us stressed, which then makes sleep harder. A consistent routine usually beats a perfect one-off night.
Hydration, caffeine, and alcohol
Cabin air is dry, and dehydration can make jet lag feel worse (headaches, fatigue, dry mouth). We can help by drinking water before, during, and after the flight.
Caffeine can be useful, but timing matters. If we use it late in the “new day”, it can push our sleep later and slow adjustment. A simple approach is to keep caffeine for the local morning and early afternoon, then stop.
Alcohol can make us sleepy at first, but it often leads to lighter sleep and more wake-ups. It also adds to dehydration. If we drink, we can keep it small and early, then switch back to water.
Meals and digestion across time zones
Our gut also follows a rhythm, so food timing can affect jet lag. When we eat meals at local times, we give our body another strong signal that we’re in a new schedule.
We can try to:
- eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on local time as soon as we can
- choose lighter meals in the first day or two (especially at night)
- snack if we need to, but avoid huge late-night meals
- focus on simple foods that sit well: fruit, yoghurt, nuts, soup, rice, lean proteins
If digestion is a problem, gentle movement, hydration, and regular meal timing often help more than skipping food for long periods.
Movement and exercise timing
Movement can help our energy and mood, and it can support sleep later on.
If we arrive during the day, a walk outside is one of the best all-round jet lag tools: it adds light exposure and gentle exercise at the same time.
If we arrive at night, we can avoid hard workouts close to bedtime because they can keep us alert. Stretching, an easy walk, or light mobility work can help us wind down instead.
Melatonin: when we might consider it
Melatonin is a hormone our body makes to support sleep timing. Some people use melatonin supplements to help shift their sleep schedule after crossing time zones.
If we consider melatonin, timing is key. It’s usually taken 30–60 minutes before the bedtime we want in the new time zone. Taking it at the wrong time can make things worse.
Because melatonin can interact with some medicines and isn’t right for everyone, it’s sensible for us to check with a GP or pharmacist first, especially if we’re pregnant, have health conditions, or take regular prescription medicines.
Planning our first 48 hours
The first two days are where we can make jet lag smaller, or larger.
A practical plan looks like this:
- land, hydrate, and eat something light on local time
- get outside for daylight (even 20–30 minutes helps)
- keep naps short and early if we need them
- schedule important tasks for when we’re most likely to be alert
- protect the first local bedtime with a calm routine and low light
Most of all, we can give ourselves permission to take it slower. Jet lag is temporary, and pushing too hard often backfires.
If we keep these steps simple—shift sleep a little before we go, stay hydrated, use daylight, keep naps short, and follow local time—we can reduce jet lag and enjoy more of the trip from day one.
Watch Our Video On Jet Lag Remedies
