To Avoid Jet Lag, Don’t Sleep Just Yet
It was 10 o’clock at night and I had been traveling for exactly 24 hours.
So when I arrived at my hotel room in Santorini, Greece, the first thing I did was …. toss the bags on the bed and head out to its bars for the island’s fun nightlife!
Hey, I didn’t travel halfway around the world to a great place like Santorini to sleep. I traveled to explore, to see old friends, to meet new ones and to party!
And you should, too.
Oh sure, it’s a good idea to jump in the shower and wash off the grime of traveling but too many people I encounter like to lie down first. They say they want to “avoid the jet lag” and “get some sleep so I’ll be ready to go tomorrow!” Or some other silly comment.
Not me. I get over my jet lag by, well, sleeping on the plane, and also by adjusting immediately to the time zone I’m in at the moment. I have one friend who keeps his watch set on his hometown time and several times a day looks at it and says “it’s such-and-such time at home.”
No wonder he’s always tired.
I never stay in the room upon getting to a destination, no matter when I arrive – morning afternoon or night.
After flying from Los Angeles to Sydney for example, (with a four-hour layover at a tiny airport in Fiji at starting at 4 in the morning) and arriving at about 11 in the morning, I immediately bolted out the door. After a nice “walkabout” I ran smack into an incredible mile-long bar right under the Opera House. It was Opera Bar and it was jammin’ for Happy Hour and almost as a bonus, I saw a sunset over Harbor Bridge.
So that’s the first thing I do upon arriving at a destination. Here’s my complete rundown:
1.) Get Out And Explore Your Destination, No Matter The Time Of Day Or Night
2.) Go For A Run The First Morning
This is a great way to discover a new destination. I can cover a lot more ground running than walking. This is part exercise, part education. While running, I check out places I might want to visit later (see “Happy Hours.” below), things I might like to do such as a park or attraction, eyeball the public transportation situation and get a general layout of the area.
3.) Go For A Walk
After my mid-morning exercise, I go back to the hotel, shower and set out on foot to more slowly explore the places I scouted out during my run.
4.) Find A Good Happy Hour Restaurant Or Bar
I like people, like to be around people and like to mingle with locals. Plus, I like a good deal while traveling. Finding a good Happy Hour restaurant and bar hits all of those points with the precision of Stephen Curry nailing a three-pointer.
5.) Get A Good Evening’s Sleep The First Night
NOW is when I put that jet lag to bed. By going to bed somewhat early (which for me is before midnight) and getting in a good, sound snooze I get over any lack-of-sleep issues in one day. If I’m in late, as was the case in Santorini, I sleep in the next day until I wake up on my own.
The next morning, with eight or nine hours of dozing done, I am fully adjusted to the local time, completely rested and refreshed for the rest of the journey.
Cheers!
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