You are all packed up, hopped on the plane and 10+ hours later you’ve landed in another country… so excited! But very tired! I am the queen of sleep and have a very hard time doing so while on or in moving transportation; therefore, travel days are really hard for me. There are plenty of researched recommendations that I have tried to follow to deal with jet lag, but ultimately only one thing has helped.
>> Avoid big plans the first two days of your international trip in order to enjoy full night sleeps!
I have FINALLY realized that by limiting scheduled activities upon arrival, I am better able to listen to my body. On the first day, have a restaurant in mind that doesn’t need reservations, so you can go anytime you want. And when you go to bed at night, don’t set an alarm!! Get as much sleep as you can. The second day, plan for a self-toured walk of the city or a low-key experience. A few times I’ve scheduled our first activity to be a massage – the perfect cure for a stiff back from the plane and throbbing feet from walking around. And by the third day, hopefully your body is catching on to your new sleep schedule and is willing to be a little more adventurous.
