Travel Hack: Beating Jet Lag

The time difference between India and the Americas is a

full twelve hours and from the UK it is about seven. So when it's eight in the

morning in Toronto or New York and the folks are just waking up, it's eight in the

evening in New Delhi or Trivanduram and it's getting time for bed.

Jet lag means waking up often in the middle of the night full of energy but

nothing to do, and not being able sleep soundly for a full eight hours. A rather

annoying feeling actually. India does get up early enough, you can usually

find a chai in the wee hours and by six am there is definite buzz of activity.

By late afternoon you may be so exhausted than you can hardly stand.

Better not fight it too much or you start seeing double,

if you body needs to sleep then sleep, like a bobbing cork it will eventually

right it self. The touts in Delhi know this, that you

are not thinking straight for a few days and is one reason they are so

persistent.

Jet lag for some may take only a few days to correct, while other, my self

included find it takes ten to fourteen days to get back their bodys' circadian

rhythm back in order. No doubt this is a mild to great inconvenience to many

when you would rather be having fun.

So what to do?

About two weeks prior to departure start staying up half hour later every night.

If normally you went to sleep at say 10pm,  then add half hour 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 1:00am.

This is now one week past then it gets harder. 1:30am, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00,

3:30, 4:00, 4:20, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00am and wake 2:00pm for your flight that leaves

that day.  If you live in Europe you will only need to ajust until 2:00am.

I should mention that hackers generally don't have jobs so sleeping all

day isn't a problem.  The important point is that this is the gentle and gradual

method of adjusting your body to the dramatic time change of jet lag. Rather

than sending it for a shock with sleep deprivation by staying up as late as

possible or by not doing anything and then dealing with the extreme jetlag in

India when you should be traveling. By gradually staying up half hour every

night the body will be fooled into think it's in India time already.

• Block out your windows. It's a good idea is to get some black canvas or card board and completely block out your bedroom for sleeping. Use duct tap and seal up the edges completely, so as not allow any light to get it.

• Go cold turkey from the coffee, tea and any caffine.
  

• Make sure everyone in your house knows what you doing, so as not make any noise or wake you up during the day.

• Unplug your phone

• Put a sign on your door warning people not to knock or ring the bell.

If all goes well when it comes time for your flight, usually departs in

the afternoon and arrives late in evening, then you can go straight to sleep

and wake the next day fit and ready to travel and enjoy India to it's

fullest!

Sleep disturbance can effect the immune system too, at home you can change

your sleep pattern with little stress of disturbance. So if you can pull this

travel hack off you'll be way ahead of the game in India.