Jetlag Advice...?

Question

I travel from the west coast to europe a few times a year and my jetlag is always terrible (incapacitated for days).

I never (ever!) sleep the night before my flight. And I never manage to sleep on the plane.

I usually get to europe at about 7am at which time I am so exhausted I can only go to sleep... I wake up at about 7pm and thus my days-week of jetlag begins.

What can I do? Has anyone else experience this?

Answer 1

Here's my advice,

Whenever I get to my destination in the morning(in your case 7am in Europe) do NOT, I repeat, do NOT go to sleep until 8-10 local time there. It's way easier to adjust to the time zone there. Don't exercise even though it might wake you up. That's only temporary. After that you'll feel even more exhausted. Try going local shopping, etc. I know this may sound impossible, trust me, it's better than being tired during the daytime and full of enery at night

Answer 2

Once you get into Europe set an alarm for about 3pm, make yourself get up and go out even if you don't feel like it. Do something energetic to try and tire yourself out and don't let yourself go back to bed till 10 or 11

You will probably sleep through till morning if you are worried maybe use a sleeping tablet or (what i do) have a glass of wine with dinner to help you sleep.

All the best with it, Jet-lag can be a killer