Posted by:
Mother Who Knows
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Date: December 05, 2018 07:30PM
My close relative was an "important" GA, who traveled all over the world. His wife was afraid of flying! They requested to have had mostly local trips assigned to them, but he ended up flying all over the world, while she stayed home. She claims all that travel, plus church stress, shortened his life.
Here is everything I know about jet-lag--well--you asked!
My son and his wife (who are much younger than the OP) travel extensively, for vacation trips. He says that you have to "suck it up" when you reach a destination, and not go to bed until destination-bedtime that night, even if you have been awake all night. They get exercise walking around on tour, and they lots of water. My older friends who travel say they do the same thing. Their tour guide was almost 80 years old, and he kept all the older folks walking around the city all day, until they crashed into bed that night, too tired to eat. They claim that this works, and it's only the first day that's less fun, and they are fine for the rest of the trip. It's worth a try, if you are in a hurry.
Exercise during the day, but no vigorous activities after dinnertime.
Don't begin any projects, and stop working, and screens off 2 hours before bedtime.
Do yoga stretches, yoga breathing.
Dim the lights, do aromatherapy.
One of my problems, is that I had just gotten divorced, and his former side of the bed became piled with books and papers. You need to have a sleep-friendly bed and bedroom.
Don't sleep with pets.
Avoid Ambien and Zolpidem. Half the Mormon women I know are hooked on it, though it's not supposed to be addictive--yeah, right.
My stewardess friend says stewardesses rely on Melatonin.
I tried Valerian a few times, and it relaxed me right before bed, but the effect wore off during the night. Chamomile and lavender tea help. Some people say to eat calcium, milk or cheese or yogurt, at night
The obvious, is to avoid caffeine and chocolate--don't eat these at all, for several weeks! These send me through the roof.
Alcohol can make some people drowsy for a while, but it can interrupt natural sleep, doctors say.
OP, you need to de-stress! Take the weekend off, if you can. Pass, on the Christmas parties, if you need to. Chill!
When I get jet-lag, I can make my own work schedule, and I concentrate on getting up in the morning, rather than putting on pressure to go to force sleep at night. I began with 6 hours sleep, the minimum to maintain health and immunity, and set my alarm for that. (Set your alarm for 9:00 am, if you go to sleep at 3:00 am). Keep it that way, no matter how bad your sleep is, for 4 days, or however long it takes to stabilize, then set the alarm 15-30 minutes earlier for 4 days, and so on. Follow Hie's instructions at night, and relax, and let your natural sleepiness take over, undisturbed by drugs or caffeine.
A light therapy box is supposed to help reset your circadian rhythm. I use one in the winter, because it makes me more alert and cheerful all day. Use it only first thing in the morning.
Naps are controversial. Everyone is different. Some say that a 20-minute "power nap" is fine, but if I take any kind of nap, I can get to sleep that night, and I'm right back into jet-lag mode.
Most nights, I need to empty my mind. I write a list, on paper, (not on a device with a blue screen) of things I'm afraid I'll lose track of overnight. Russ Nelson's only really good advice. LOL.
Never watch the news at night, or anything upsetting or mentally stimulating, or too loud. Don't argue with your wife at night.