International travel is often accompanied by a change in time zones, which makes it difficult to enjoy a vacation at first. According to CNN, the term jet lag describes the physical and cognitive symptoms people experience when they travel and arrive in a country with a different time zone than the country they flew from.

The Lebanese no longer know exactly what time zone they are inPhoto: DreamsTime / Loeskieboom

Before going on a trip, our body synchronizes with the local time. When we get to a country with a new time zone, the rhythm of the body changes. At this time, symptoms include sleepiness, feeling hungry in the middle of the night, and you may feel bloated or nauseous if you eat during the day. All this disappears when the biological clock and all the rhythms it controls align with the new local time.

“Jet lag” is not the same for everyone

How we experience the difference in time zones varies from person to person, because each of us has our own internal rhythm.

Most of us have a natural daily cycle of about 24.2 hours. Some people have a slightly longer menstrual cycle than others, and this can play a big role in how a person experiences jet lag.

Research shows that if you have a longer cycle, you can adapt more quickly to traveling west, such as traveling from Australia to South Africa.

Six tips on how to feel less time difference

There are some simple ways to overcome the time zone difference more easily. Some of them:

  • 1. Decide whether it is worth trying to adapt to the new time. If it’s been more than three days, start consciously changing your own rhythms — such as sleeping, eating, exercising — to the new time zone.
  • 2. If you’re trying to change your body clock, you should start on a plane. Set your watch to the time zone of your destination.
  • 3. Keep your caffeine and alcohol intake low while traveling. This will help you sleep better and hydrate your body.
  • 4. When adjusting to the new time zone, try to sleep at night and rest only when you feel too much need at other times of the day.
  • 5. Gastrointestinal discomfort is a symptom of jet lag. If you are prone to or have stomach problems while traveling, limit yourself to small portions and eat when you are hungry.
  • 6. Go outside because sunlight is necessary to adjust to the new time zone. Depending on the time zone change, correctly calculated activity in the fresh air will help. (Photo: Dreamstime.com)