Can you avoid jet lag after a long haul flight?
Advice from ex-cabin crew on tackling tiredness after travelling
Text: Livvie B
When I tell people that I’m an ex-air hostess and used to spend my life on long haul flights, one of the first questions they ask me is about jet lag and sleep:
“Your body clock must have been f*cked?”
“Do cabin crew really go to sleep in the hold on their breaks?”
Closely followed by:
“Are you a member of The Mile High Club?”
Basically, sleep and sex pique people’s interest more than travelling! (And it’s okay, I get it!)
To answer the questions: no, we don’t sleep in the hold, but we do have secret bunks on a long-haul aircraft where we can get some shut eye after service. And yes, my body clock was pretty messed up most of the time.
Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder, which sounds kind of scary, but it’s super common amongst travellers. Given that there were 10,710,717 outbound trips from Singapore in 2019, before the world of Covid-19 existed, I’m willing to bet that most of you have suffered with sleep post-flying too.
Headaches, nausea, dizziness, and extreme fatigue are all known symptoms of jet lag, and it can be the worst feeling. However, I did learn a couple of tricks during my years in the sky, which I hope will save you from excessive tiredness during your next holiday. Here are my top three tips:
Sleep when you are tired
Over the years, I’ve had many discussions with fellow cabin crew about the best times to sleep. Some say you should stick on your home time zone to avoid jet lag; others say you should start slowly changing your body clock hour by hour in the lead up to the trip. Personally, I find the time zone arithmetic involved in this far too stressful! Very early into my flying career, I learned to get my head down whenever my body was telling me it needed rest. This can mean that your sleep pattern fluctuates from a typical eight hours a night, but the power nap is key to being bright eyed and bushy tailed. Try to avoid sleeping tablets such as melatonin, as these typically provide only temporary relief.
Drink a lot of water
If you think you’ve drank as much water as your body can possibly hold, drink another bottle! A report from the Aerospace Medial Association suggests drinking at least eight ounces of water for every hour you’re on the flight. This is because, whilst a normal person is comfortable with a humidity level of 30-65%, the infiltration systems on board an aircraft dry out the air, meaning levels are somewhere between 20-30%, which can lead to dehydration. If you aren’t replenishing this lost liquid, you’re worsening your jet lag. My top tip is to take your own reusable water bottle on board the flight and ask the crew to fill it up as soon as you are on board. The BKR 1 litre ones are great and come in a range of cute colours and styles.
Don’t skip your skincare routine
When you’re planning a trip, chances are you’re trying to pack as lightly as possible to avoid nasty excess baggage charges or hauling your entire beauty cabinet around Changi. However, it is so important that you look after your skin on board, and doing so can help you get into the relaxing pre-bed state that you are used to at home, aiding your on-board naps.
