So you are very excited because you have a wonderful trip planned to Europe the only problem, you lost 3 days or more recovering from jet lag on your last trip. Sound familiar?
Here are my top secrets to get over jet lag faster when traveling to Europe from the states.
Tip # 1
The week before you leave try to go to bed earlier each night, even if you can only manage 15 minutes at a time. This also means, and more importantly, you should wake up earlier too. Your key here is to get as close as possible to the time zone you will be traveling in during your vacation.
Tip # 2
If at all possible, try to stick to your normal work schedule. I know this is hard because you will have so much work to do when you return you want to get ahead of it and stay late or work long hours. Do the best you can, you know your work situation best. This goes hand in hand with tip #1 because if you are exhausted when you begin your vacation, jet lag wins.
Tip # 3
Purchase an eye mask if you don't already have one along with earplugs for your trip. As an alternative listen to soothing sounds or white noise with your earbuds. I'll explain more in Tip #5. For anyone that uses eye makeup, you can purchase masks that have indents in the eye area to avoid smearing your eye makeup. Although nothing prevents it fully.
Bonus Tip: Pack cleansing face wipes for touching up.
Tip # 4
Always fly overnight. If you have a travel advisor, they will schedule an evening flight for the leg over the ocean. If you are planning yourself, don't try to plan on our time, plan on theirs. Most flights to Europe are overnight so this task should not be hard. You want to arrive in the morning. Of course, where you go determines just what time you arrive.
Tip # 5
Here you will combine the last two tips with this one. You MUST sleep on the flight over. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. I hear this all the time on the plane. "Stay awake." There is a reason they turn the lights off in the cabin. This is absolutely crucial to help you get on their schedule and reduce jet lag. Use your eye mask and ear plugs if necessary. I have had to use mine many times. The reading lights don't just illuminate the person trying to stay away or read a book. If need be, ask your doctor about something to help you sleep, herbal teas like chamomile, and the like. Whatever works best for you.
Tip # 6
A tip I learned from the cabin crew is to stay hydrated both on the flight and of course while traveling. The preferable form on hydration is water. A drink on the plane sounds good but remember you are headed into your first day of vacation and my suggestions for Tip #7 so alcohol may not be the best idea.
Tip # 7
Stay awake when you arrive. Yep, this is your first day in Europe. Choose something that does not have a defined schedule to do today. Don't plan heavy tours, instead use this day to sightsee on your own if you can. If you are cruising, come in a day early, not just for jet lag, but you never know when there will be delays and you don't want to miss your ship. So, for today walk around the city, take a hop-on-hop-off bus tour to get acquainted with the city. The key today is to force yourself to stay awake as late as you can. If you go to bed at 11:00 at home, go to bed at 11:00 their time or earlier if you have plans early the next day. Stay hydrated today too.
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This is what your trip my look like up to this point. I'll recount an example of what I do when in Paris. I've gone to bed early each night and tried my best to wake up early as well. Got on the plane and listened to a man tell his poor mother to stay awake all night while he read under the reading lamp directly behind me. I arrive early in the morning blurry-eyed because it is the middle of the night for me. Next, I go to the hotel and drop off the bags, quick shower and change and I'm off to the Seine to grab the Batobus and cruise around the Seine seeing the sights hopping on and off as I see something I want to explore. I walk around the Latin quarter, grab a bite to eat, go in Shakespeare & Company, make my way back to the Louvre grounds, grab a baguette and head to the hotel. I order the room service charcuterie to go with my baguette for an early dinner and in bed around 10:00 or 11:00. Yes, I'm tired but day one was fun, interesting, and because I took time to see the city, I didn't feel like I missed anything.
If you have done what I suggested until now, you may be a little tired today but that jittery, exhausted, unable-to-get-out-of-bed feeling you get with jet lag should not be there. Stay hydrated and enjoy your vacation.
Bonus Tip
Going home will be hard, there is no way around it since you will be enjoying every minute of your vacation prepping like you did before is just not possible. My tip for going home is to plan to arrive at least one day before you must return to work. Because you will follow the sun on your way home, it is hard to sleep so you may be awake for a full 24 hours without even realizing it. Hopefully, you will not drive home after the flight but if you must, know you will be tired and get some coffee on the plane and in the airport.
I hope you have enjoyed these tips and please use them on your next trip to Europe! They work for me and I would love to hear how they work for you.
I have provided a link below to the eye masks that I use to help sleep on the plane. They come with ear plugs too.
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