How to Quickly Adjust to Time Changes When Traveling

Now that you’ve planned that big trip abroad and the day has almost arrived, it’s time to let the excitement settle in. Perhaps you’re heading out as a graduation gift after earning your online doctor of education, or maybe it’s a mid-semester break that you’ve booked. Of course, you want to make the most of the trip, which means you need to be able to adjust to the new time zone immediately. The last thing you want to do is spend the first couple days walking around jet-lagged and missing out on all the fun.

The good news is that there are some tips you can make use of that will help you adjust to time changes faster and easier. Here’s a closer look.

Start to Adjust Before You Leave

One tip that travelers don’t often think about is that you can start to adjust your body before youeven leave. Over the course of a week or so, you can gradually start to adjust your sleep and meal times. Obviously if you are dealing with a huge time change you can’t make that kind of adjustment at home, but even just a couple of hours will help.

This is also a good tip to use when you come home. Instead of jumping right back into your home time zone, gradually adjust over a couple of days by playing with meal and sleep times.

Pick Up Some Melatonin

If your first impulse is to pick up some sleeping pills, then you may want to think again. Instead you can use a natural solution that works the same way. Pick up some Melatonin and then take it a few hours before it is time to go to bed. It will help to relax your mind and body allowing you to fall asleep easier and faster. You may even choose to take this during your full trip to ensure you are able to sleep well and get enough rest.

Keep Naps in Check

Once you arrive it’s perfectly normal to want to nap. While napping isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you want to be sure you don’t go overboard. You still want to be tired enough to sleep at bedtime. It is recommended you don’t nap for longer than two hours, that it isn’t too close to bedtime, and you don’t nap multiple times in a day.

Keep Yourself Hydrated

It's hard enough to adjust to a new time zone without outside factors, so this is why it's important to stay hydrated. Once you allow your body to become dehydrated you will feel sluggish and sleepy. Be sure to drink plenty of water and keep the coffee and alcohol in check.

Making the Most of Your Trip

Thanks to these tips you’ll be able to arrive in the destination, quickly adjust to the different time zone, and get on with enjoying your trip. Your break from your online EDD program should be everything you dreamed of and then some.