Top Tips On How To Deal With Jet Leg On Corporate Trips

0 Comments | 24 Oct 2023

Travelling is one of the perks of having a corporate job, but it also comes with its disadvantages, namely jet lag. 

If you have to travel a lot with work and suffer from disturbed sleep from long flights and changing time zones, here are some tips to make yourself feel better. 

Have a car waiting for you

Although having a private airport transfer won’t eradicate jet lag, it can make it far easier for you to catch up on sleep. 

For a start, you don’t have to wait around for taxis or waste time on public transport. Instead, you can get taken to your hotel as soon as you have picked up your luggage, making the journey to a bed that much quicker. 

What’s more, if you have not been able to sleep on a long flight, particularly an overnight one, you will feel very tired and irritable when you get off the plane. Being able to enjoy some comfort on the last leg of your journey will help you relax and make it easier to fall asleep when you get a chance to. 

Acclimatise to the new time zone

If you have travelled across time zones, it is important to acclimatise to the new one as soon as possible. 

This can be done by going outside in the daylight, as this has the “biggest influence on circadian rhythm”, according to the Sleep Foundation. 

“Light from the sun, even on a cloudy day, is a critical signal interpreted by the brain to regulate our internal clock,” it stated. 

Do not nap too much 

While a quick power nap can shed some of tiredness, it is important not to nap too much when trying to get over jet lag. 

Sleeping for a long time in the day can confuse the body into thinking it is night time, making it harder for you to sleep later on. 

Therefore, as well as keeping naps short, try not to fall asleep at least eight hours before you plan to go to bed. 

Exercise

Though you might not fancy doing any exercise when you are tired after lots of travelling, it can help align your circadian rhythm, making it easier to get over jet lag. 

Being physically active encourages the new sleep schedule, but it is important not to work out too close to bedtime as this could wake the body up. 

Schedule time for rest

Corporate trips can be very busy, as companies like to fit in lots of events into a short stay to make the most of it. However, you will be more productive if you do not have back-to-back meetings, meals and networking opportunities, as your body needs time to rest. 

Try to make sure you schedule in sleep, as well as everything else, or even some downtime, so you can feel refreshed and re-energised to network to your best abilities. 

Don’t hit caffeine hard

It can be tempting to keep yourself awake with caffeine on the day you land, but this means your body will struggle to switch off when you want it to fall asleep. Have a couple of coffees to take the edge off sleepiness during the day but steer clear four to six hours before bedtime, or earlier if you are particularly sensitive to caffeine.