40 Ways to Combat Jet Lag

We've all been there: Every moment of the trip is planned, right up until getting to the destination and realizing you are absolutely exhausted. It's time to take advantage of your entire trip by beating jet lag once and for all.

Jet lag isn't just a case of being a little extra sleepy because you can't hack it. Jet lag is a real thing and can cause both stress and worsen various mood disorders. It will sap your energy, weaken your memory and decrease your ability to learn or retain information. Trust me: You can't just tough this out.

Are you taking a short trip? It might be better to plan around sticking to your normal schedule. A longer trip could mean finding ways to adjusted your body's natural rhythms. Bringing young children? That's a big ol' curveball that can change everything. Be mindful of what your body needs as you make your plans.

Every longtime traveler swears by their favorite jet lag cure. Don't fall for old wives tales or snake oil. Do your research and find tried and tested methods that work for you.

Don't wait until you get to your location to start adjusting. As much as possible, start sleeping, waking and even eating on your new schedule a few days early. Small steps will add up to ease the transition.

Ever try to stay up just so you can sleep on the plane? Has that trick ever worked...even once? Don't do it. Sleep well and enter your trip well rested.

Important trip? Build in a day or two to help adjust to your new surroundings and time zone. Consider it a win-win with some extra time to have a little fun.

Stopovers aren't as common as they used to be, but why spend all that time in an airplane when you can take a pitstop and double your adventure?

Arriving at night is almost as bad as taking the Red Eye. Do your best to arrive with daylight left to burn.

Once you're on the plane, comfort is the name of the game. If it's a long haul flight, look into the creature comforts that keep stress levels low and allow you to catch up (undisturbed) shut eye-window seats, away from bathrooms or service areas are the name of the game.

It isn't just your seat choice that can make a huge difference. Newer, better equipped planes offer more natural air pressure, higher humidity and even better lighting that can make a draining trip more bearable. Aim for the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350.

Find picking your seat a chore and don't even want to start thinking about finding the right plane? All of this planning can be done for you with a trusted travel agent.

The moment you sit down in your seat and right before you turn on airplane mode, turn your phone (or your watch) to your new time. It seems simple, but this little mental lifehack will immediately start to adjust your body as you see simple little time clues for the rest of the trip.

Remember when you fought naps and thought they were the worst thing in the world? Now, you're an adult, and life is difficult. Right now, you have time to close your eyes and you totally should.

Once your phone goes into airplane mode, you should start preparing for your aforementioned nap. That means putting your phone away and saving the movie for later. Don't fall for the allure of your devices. They are the enemy right now.

Preparing for your siesta at 30,000 feet shouldn't start with a nightcap. Literally everything most people think they know about alcohol and sleep is wrong. You fall asleep at about the same rate after your calming drink and your quality of sleep suffers. Save the beer, wine and spirits for (well after) you land.

Unless you've been properly diagnosed with a sleep disorder and prescribed a sleep aid, you're likely doing more harm than good with anything designed to knock you out or perk you up. Sleep cycles are a tricky thing, and knocking yourself even more out of whack is dangerous.

OK, one exception to the "no sleep aid" rule: Melatonin has been proven to help assist with sleep aid. It's a naturally occurring hormone that regulates sleep cycles, so you can take it for more restful sleep when it's already time to sleep. For a dose without the pills, try a handful of walnuts and tart cherries.

Longtime travelers know everything about a plane can feel cold and sterile. Help yourself calm down with a spritz of lavender or rosewater. You'll fall asleep quicker, get more restful sleep and may even help the people around you settle down as well!

Take that lavender spray or oil mentioned in the last slide and apply it to a sleep mask for double the benefit. Add in some ear plugs and a travel pillow, and you're really in business. Yes, you can sleep anywhere, but this is about getting better, restful sleep.

With your nap over, it's time to get your steps in. Take an extra trip up and down the aisle. Do some light stretching right in your seat. Move around to keep your blood flowing.

If you're passing on the midflight cocktail, opt for hydration instead. Flights dry you out. Lots and lots of water is going to help your body run better. Start adding extra H2O the day before your flight and carry your new good habit with you until you get back home-and beyond.

If the goal is to stay hydrated, start weaning yourself off caffeine-especially airplane coffee, it's not good anyway. Once you're landed, go easy on the stimulant and fight the temptation to overdue it. You want your body to naturally self correct.

Some people go on fasts to help with jet lag. Others swear by heavy meals. Here's a novel idea: just give your food the good fuel it needs to do its job. Pack healthy snacks for the trip and don't go crazy with heavy meals at your location.

Getting acclimated to your new time zone has absolutely everything to do with the sun. Spend as much time as you can getting natural sunlight-even if you're otherwise stuck inside. Make it a priority, and you'll find the transition so much easier.

If you absolutely can't get the real thing when it comes to sunlight, look into a travel-sized light therapy device. It will pay dividends on your very first trip.

It's a rookie move to get to your hotel and immediately turn on the TV or build in a cat nap. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, find a destination (hopefully outdoors) that can keep you moving.

One of the oddest jet lag tips was once given to Bruce Willis in Die Hard. "Grounding" yourself-especially in nature-works. You'll even see longtime travelers do it in customs! You'll laugh now, but sleep better later.

For a bigger bonus to the grounding tip, make your way to nature and just...be. The fresh air, sunlight and stress melting away will both invigorate you and help you acclimate to your new timezone. The sooner after your flight, the better!

Speaking of fresh air, oxygen is pretty important to keeping your body running in tip top shape. Generally, outside is better than inside, but if you're flying to a city with poor air quality or to high altitudes, you may want to find some pure oxygen therapy.

Maybe the most extreme tip here, IV vitamin treatments for jet lag (and hangovers) have been a trend in airport and hotel spas for almost a decade. If nothing else is working for you, an IV can deliver the hydration, electrolytes and vitamins your body needs in a hurry-for a price.

The travel and change in routine is hazardous enough to your stress levels. Take some of that extra time you build into your trip and spend some of it relaxing-anything from winding down with some light activity to visiting the spa and getting a massage or settling in for some pampering.

Eventually, at your destination, you will need to sleep. We'll touch on some ways to ensure that happens in the most restful way possible, but first admit to yourself your all-nighters are behind you and sleep is the only way to stave off jet lag.

Sleeping away from home doesn't always come easily, but don't shortchange yourself in your new digs. Make sure you have a room that has quiet, proper ways to block out the sunlight and is comfortable. Read reviews and spend a little extra when you can.

If it's bed time, turn off the TV, close the laptop and hide the smartphone where you can't grab it. Even better, set a couple of alarms or wakeup calls so you don't have to worry.

One of the perks of sleeping in a hotel room for the savvy business traveler? No one else to fight with over the temperature at night. Generally speaking, people sleep better when it's cooler, and the drop in temperature can trigger your body toward sleep.

That thing with cooling your body off to trick your body into sleeping? It works even better if you add a hot shower or bath to the mix. Take advantage of that swanky hotel bathroom and all those fancy toiletries.

Generally speaking, it's better to work out and get your blood flowing in the morning than to expect to be able to relax after doing so at night. That said, if you're a habitual nighttime gym freak, do what works for you. Either way, add more movement to your trip!

Success guru Tony Robbins swears by cold tubs in the morning, and while that may not be a great plan for your hotel room, you can jolt yourself awake in the AM by taking as cold a shower as you can manage. An added perk: You'll get ready so much faster.

It's one thing to pack those things you just can't live without, but what about a few touches that just make the hotel room feel a little more like home. Favorite objects-including scents and sounds-can make falling asleep easier and more restful.

Take all of this advice and add it to your return trip too! No matter which way you're flying, travel takes a toll on your body. Stay well-rested, hydrated, moving and well-fed to better enjoy your travel and eliminate the eventual vacation hangover. Then, start planning your next trip.