'I put my phone in airplane mode, but it's not flying...'
1. Go carb heavy or go home
There are certain foods which help to induce insulin secretion which can minimise jet lag and even stop it altogether. Foods which can help with this are carb heavy items such as whole grain bread, spaghetti and oatmeal.
2. Eat before the flight
It is much harder for the body to digest food during a flight so it’s worth trying to eat your carb rich meal before getting on the flight. During your time in the air if you do get hungry snacks are a great option and easier for the body to cope with, especially warm items.
3. Pac(k) a snack
As discussed above, if you do feel hungry on the plane the best snacks are protein rich ones such as almonds, peanut butter, crackers and cheese. They will fill you up and won’t cause bloating.
4. Preorder is the new order
If you do want to partake in an in-flight meal and are vegan, vegetarian, gluten intolerant etc. then order beforehand and normally these are served first, so you get to eat as soon as possible and enjoy your in-flight movies for longer or take a well earn post-eating nap.
5. Hydration, hydration….vacation
This may seem obvious but flying is extremely dehydrating so make sure that you have plenty of water and keep drinking throughout the flight, even when you aren’t thirsty. Try to avoid caffeine as this will dehydrate you further. Try having some green tea (decaffeinated variety) as this can also help to reduce jet lag.
6. Channel your inner onion
No matter where you are flying to or from there are times on a flight where you can get rather warm and times it can get rather chilly, especially on a long-haul flight that goes from day to night. By wearing layers, you can easily add or remove items to keep as comfortable as possible on the flight.
7. Music to our ears!
These come in handy for many reasons, ear plugs or noise cancelling headphones do a great job of cancelling out unwanted noises such as the roar of the plane's engines. They are also helpful when trying to sleep and relax or if you are listening to a podcast, audio book or watching a show or movie.
8. Don’t interrupt the binge watching (shudder!)
Many popular TV sites such as Amazon, iTunes and Netflix let you download shows and films so that you can be offline and still watch them. It can be a great way to utilise your time, especially on a long flight to relax and watch a new film or catch up on a TV show. It is also a great time to start a book you have been meaning to read on your tablet device, or you know, an actual book!
9. Pretend you’re a vampire (Edward right?)
Although this isn’t your most attractive look (or maybe you’ll rock it, we aren’t judging), wearing an eye mask will block out the light which can help with jet lag as the light can affect your circadian rhythm.
10. Pack some power
If you know you will be using several devices on the flight or even a lot of just one or two it's worth bringing a power pack with multiple charges on it so that you can charge your devices while using them. Plus, then there is no chance of losing juice just before the ending of the blockbuster you are watching, or lose the plane selfie you took when the person next to you was asleep. No? Just us then.
