How to Calculate Jet Lag Time
Jet lag is a physiological condition that occurs after crossing multiple time zones. It disrupts your circadian rhythm, causing a feeling of disorientation as the body attempts to catch up with the new time zone. Travelers often take a few days to recover. If traveling eastward, the recovery time is usually one day per time zone. There is a slight difference when you travel westward. The recovery time is about a half day for every time zone. If you wish to avoid jet lag, learn how to prevent its occurrence.
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Instructions
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Calculate how many time zones you will be crossing. Generally, flying through one or two time zones will create little havoc with your body. If you are flying over more three or more time zones, however, your body will react negatively to the change.
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Make note of the time it currently is in your home destination. You will need this to figure out how disrupted your body's internal clock is.
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Take a look at how many time zones you have left since your departure city. Add a day if you are flying east. If you have flown more than six time zones, then it will take you six days to recover. If you have flown west, it will only take three days to recover. This is because when you fly west, you are essentially gaining time, while flying east causes you to lose time.
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Tips & Warnings
To avoid severe jet lag when traveling, be sure to adjust your body by being out in the daylight during the day and inside at night. Light is one of the cues your body looks for to begin its daily routine. Avoid settling into routine patterns from your home time zone because it will only make matters worse.
Doctors recommend melatonin to combat jet lag.
Exercise regularly to keep your body active. Be sure to adjust your exercise routine to the new time zone, not your old one.
Eat at the normal times in the new time zone. Eating at times that make sense in your old time zone will serve to continue your body's disruption.
