Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder that occurs due to having traveled by plane to a distant destination with a time difference.

This happens because our body gets used to certain schedules. These routines are called circadian rhythms, which become unbalanced when we fly to a distant destination and move across time zones. The change is so fast that the biological rhythm of the body does not have time to adapt.

The body clock will still be in sync with the original time at the time location of the destination being traveled to.

The most typical symptoms of jet lag are:

• Hangover feeling
• Overall tiredness
• Difficulty sleeping at night and sleepiness during the day
• Digestive problems such as vomiting
• Mental confusion or difficulty making decisions
• Irritability
• Apathy

The duration and intensity of the effects may vary depending on our age, health status or stress levels.

But most of all, it arose from the number of time zones crossed and the direction traveled. Normally, the body would need a day to adjust to the new time with every hour changing, but if we travel west, the day gets longer, the body gains hours, and it will be easier to adapt than when we travel east, which means traveling in the opposite direction of the body clock, and we have fewer hours to get used to the new schedule.

For example, if we travel from Spain to New York or Mexico, it will cost us less to adapt to the new schedule than if we travel to an Asian destination. It is as if we went to bed a few hours later than normal. In a day or two, we'll be used to the new schedule. The same does not happen if we travel to Vietnam or any Asian destination, it is as if they make us get up when we have to go to sleep. Jet lag can last from one to six or seven days.

Jet lag is one of the things that I have the worst on trips, and over the last few years, I have been putting into practice some tricks that have helped me to lessen its effects. I learned them after suffering countless jet lag, but above all, after traveling to Australia, which had the worst jet lag I've ever had. I did the opposite of what I recommend here:

Before the flight

1.- Adapt little by little to the schedule of the destination

If you're traveling west, you can try going to bed an hour later each day and getting up later, slowly changing your schedule. Three days or four days will suffice.

If you are going to travel east, start at least a week in advance to gradually change your schedule, going to bed earlier and getting up earlier.

2.- Rest and eat well

The days before, try to rest well, not drink alcohol and eat fruits and vegetables that have a lot of liquid, to be well hydrated.

3.- Split the trip

If you are going to travel to a destination in the far west (for example, if you go from Spain to New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, etc.) and you have enough time, take the opportunity to stop for a couple of days in Dubai and get to know the country, or in any other destination that is halfway. It will cost you less to adapt.

During flight

4.- Do not drink drinks with caffeine or alcohol

And drink plenty of fluids so as not to avoid the dryness of the atmosphere inside the plane. Hangovers increase jet lag.

5.- Make the meal and sleep schedule of the destination

Change your watch as soon as you get on the plane to make the destination schedule, if it's night there, sleep, if it's daytime, try not to sleep.

If you are traveling west, try to stay awake to sleep when you arrive at your destination.