J is for Jet Lag

Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175218241727379957/

I confess that there are barely any people whose advice on fighting jet lag I would consider listening to, let alone heeding. And the bastard -jet lag, I mean,- is so random that even I have given up on magic recipes and I just play it by ear.

Before becoming so zen about it, I think I tried it all: adjusting to local time immediately, sticking to the previous biorhythm, melatonin, homeopathic pills from New Zealand, sleeping pills, sleep induction tablets, herbs, tea, meditation, counting sheep, exercise, massage, Malbec, you name it.

And now I stick to just two rules. Walk a lot and spend as much time as possible in daylight. Ideally, you do both at once. For food, sleep, thirst and other bodily functions, just listen to your body and go with the flow.  Bitching moderately about it also helps, but it's not essential.

What I hate about jet lag is that tiredness to the point of nausea; tossing in bed endlessly.  when you finally fall asleep,  waking up with the urge to pee. Five times, at least. Not being able to make up your mind if it is cold or warm. Ordering lunch and not being able to eat.

But jet lag has its ups, I must admit.  I love arriving places, so where there is jet lag, there is excitement. About seeing new places or meeting old friends, or being back home. I also love the ridiculously early mornings, when I feel like the only awake person on earth. And jet-lagged is the only state in which I am freakishly productive between 4 and 9 am. I do heaps of things, I feel awesome, and then by 9 am I can be super lazy with no guilt!