It’s a bit far off, but research at the Salk Institute points a possible way to helping travelers overcome jet-lag, and helping shift workers and others overcome sleep disorders. Researchers have identified a gene that apparently controls circadian rhythms, sleep/wake cycles and the like.
So far there’s no mechanism to regulate the action, but it’s a likely research target (and potential bonanza) for drug companies. For (complex) details, click HERE. In the meantime, we’ll just have to keep relying on our personal routines…
Until they develop this expensive therapy, do the basics that work reasonably well for me. Stay hydrated. When you arrive at your destination, don’t nap. Slip into the local time frame hard as it might be the first day. If you arrive during the day, go for a nice walk. Helps train your primitive brain that its still day (not night like it’s telling you) and the exercise will do you good. Go to be early but try to sleep when the locals do. And don’t overuse alcohol because of its tendence to dehydrate, especially when flying.
I always put my watch onto the destination time as soon as I board the plane.
Like most other travellers it only affects me when I go West to East – US to Europe !
I always am fine coming home. What gets me is those early arrivals when we go to Europe. I have to struggle that first day to stay awake or I never get on track .I like arriving in the afternoon or evening and then I’m ok.
As shift workers learn quickly,light and darkness does play a big part in good sleep A lot of factories now try to keep workers from seeing the night to fool the body into thinking it’s day
I do the watch bit, too, although if they’re serving a meal right away, I eat it on departure time and then switch to arrival time. Getting set mentally really seems to be a big part of it.
I think, in fact, that one of the reasons my anti-jetlag routines work well for me is, in fact, because they have become routines, and I am used to how I will feel and react, even if it takes a day to be truly in synch.
I always find the worst jet lag is my journey home. Be it from east or west. Strange how we all differ in the functioning of our internal clock.