Jet Lag

[Big Wheel]

I got back from a trip to Southeast Asia 3 days ago and my body's still all messed up. By around 5pm I start getting tired and cranky, but I've been forcing myself to stay up until I finally can't stand up anymore, which usually happens around 9:30. That's not such a bad bedtime...except I wake up at 2:30am every day. Then I stay up till around 6, at which point I go back to bed, more out of it seeming like a good idea than actually being tired. Is there anything I should be doing to start getting my sleep schedule back to normal? I'd rather not pop any pills.

[wesbed]

When I travel, which is never outside of the USA, I'm not too much bothered by the change in time zones. The greatest time difference one must face, when traveling within the continental USA, is three hours between the West Coast and the East Coast.

Upon arrival at my destination, I set my timepiece (my cell phone) to the local time. Actually, the cell phone sets its own time. I act like I'm on the local time as if I'd always been on the local time. My body adjusts overnight and I don't think about the time change again.

[B. Goren.]

I have the same problem when ever I travel to the US. I wake up every night at 2:00 AM and can't sleep anymore. I need a week to recover. No problems at all on the way back. I just have to adjust my wristwatch and that's it.

[Matthew]

... By around 5pm I start getting tired and cranky...

Gee, I don't need jetlag for that to happen!

[rockefeller center]

Is there anything I should be doing to start getting my sleep schedule back to normal? I'd rather not pop any pills.

Get drunk around the time you usually go to bed. This helps.

[tjobbe]

I'm trying to stay awake as long as I can and after three days I'm so tired that my body can't refuse to fall asleep.... In my case I'm normally only in for 4-5 days working so I avoid changing my rhythm of sleep&awake times ...

Will have this again in 4weeks from now

Cheers, Tjobbe

Edited July 26, 2004 by tjobbe