Business travel is often inevitable and it also often means having to whisk yourself off to far-flung destinations, which can take its toll on your mental and emotional health and wellbeing, especially if you’ve travelled far enough to have to deal with jetlag once you get where you’re going.
You need to make sure that you’re on point and alert, ready for anything, when you’re travelling for business, but jetlag can certainly make this quite difficult… and this could mean you make a less than favourable first impression, unless you do something to counteract the effects of crossing time zones.
Jet lag itself happens when your internal body clock isn’t aligned with the local time at your destination, a phenomenon that can prove particularly problematic if you fly over three or more time zones.
Symptoms include difficulty sleeping, drowsiness during the day, impaired cognitive and physical function and even emotional disturbances, such as excessive irritability – all of which can make it very difficult to complete your work to a satisfactory standard.
Adapting as quickly as you can to your new time zone is one of the best ways to get rid of jet lag, so make sure you stick to mealtimes and bedtime routines in line with what the time is where you currently are, not where you used to be.
Another good coping strategy is to make an attempt to adjust to your new time zone while you’re still in the air. For example, if it’s nighttime in your chosen destination, try and get some sleep on the plane if you can, or stay awake if it’s daytime to make the adjustment easier for you.
If possible, you could even try and schedule your trip so you get there a few days before your meetings, so that you’ve got enough time to get used to your new schedule.
Beyond that, keeping well hydrated, eating nutritious food and getting as much sunlight as you can will all help you find your feet more quickly, ensuring that you’re able to fulfil your work obligations with no trouble at all.
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