10 Techniques for Navigating Time Zone Shifts Like a Pro

Saad Muzaffar

Everyone has a different tolerance to jet lag, and factors such as the direction you are flying and the timing of your flight can impact the overall experience. However, experienced travelers share ten techniques that can assist you in adjusting to a new time zone.

1. An Early Bird's Flight

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One member shares two options they've had the most success with. They book a flight that arrives early in the morning and sleep during their journey. They spend that first day outdoors as much as possible and go to bed early. The following day, they're in sync with the new timezone.

2. An Evening Entrance

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Another option is to book a flight that arrives in the evening. In this case, the user advises not to sleep on the plane so you're tired when you arrive. You can go straight to your accommodation and sleep. Once you wake up at a reasonable hour the next morning, spend as much of the day outdoors as possible.

3. Winding the Time

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Here's an intriguing tip shared by a user. They immediately set their watch to the local time and do what they usually do. It works great, and they do so while moving through the time zones for each layover.

4. Timeshifter

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A user suggests trying the Timeshifter app, which many seem unaware of. You can plug in your flight information, and this cool app tells you the best times to sleep, avoid caffeine, and much more. “The first trip is free, so I would include the return flights as well to get the most out of it,” they add.

5. Planner's Proposition

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While everyone has their own way of handling jet lag, one member can sleep anywhere, anytime, so it's easy for them to navigate the time difference. However, they start shifting their eating time and sleep cycle a few days before departure, so they're already on local time when they walk off the plane!

6. Setting the Tone

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A seasoned traveler shares their experience of flying to Asia from the East Coast. They take a “stay up until I need to sleep” position. They believe that getting a really good sleep the first night will set the tone for the rest of the trip!

7. Afternoon Secrets

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The secret's out. A user tries to get a flight that lands in the afternoon or early evening per the local time. That way, you can sleep at night. You will still be jet lagged and may feel “off,” but you will adjust more quickly as you're on a natural sleep pattern.

8. Forced Exhaustion

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A member believes that forcing yourself into exhaustion will help you get that fantastic first night of sleep! There are also over-the-counter gentle sleep aids that are easily accessible and assist with adjusting your sleep cycle. One user got a prescription for Ambien. Seek a professional's advice on supplements if you need them.

9. A Sleeper's Retreat

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There are two kinds of flyers: those that sleep during flights and those that don't. One suggests sleeping as much as you can on the flight. “Technically, if you slept beautifully the whole flight, you'd be fine when you arrived.” This way, if you land at 9 a.m., you can drop off bags at the hotel, grab lunch, and explore the area where you're staying!

10. A Pre-Sleep Marathon

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Traveling eastbound seriously unhinged one person's sleep. Hence, their go-to routine was taking a prescribed Ambien once the first meal/drink service was underway. After landing and going to the hotel, they'd go for a long run and stay awake until at least 8 p.m.

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