“It's important to know what you'll be doing on the plane,” Dengler explained. “Is it a red-eye flight where the purpose is to sleep? Or do you need to do something during the day?”
Try to sleep at night at your destination, not at your departure point. Also, if you plan on sleeping during the flight, avoid caffeine and walk around the airport to wind down before boarding.
“Watching movies can make you sleepy, so when you need to stay awake, log on to Wi-Fi to work or shop instead,” Jacobs suggested.
Jet lag is very real, but even after you're sleepless and your eyes are red, there are various strategies to make the time change more manageable.
“Don't take a nap once you arrive at your destination,” Ross said. “Power through to synchronize your body with your local clock. You'll be able to adjust to your new time zone better.”
However, don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's not the end of the world if you can't adapt right away.
“Don't force yourself to sleep just because you think you should,” says Laura Ratliff, senior editorial director at TripSavvy. “I'm a big fan of the 'espresso nap' upon arrival. Grab a quick espresso, close the curtains, and force yourself to sleep for 25 to 30 minutes. Thanks to this, I can go through the day without feeling blurred vision, and I am now tired enough to sleep at night. ”
