You, on the other hand, are hyper, hungry, and a bit restless.

Is it insomnia that's keeping you awake?

Nope, it's something totally different - jet lag!

And one of the biggest jet lag mysteries is why on Earth it's worse when you fly east?

Jet lag happens when you cross several time zones while traveling from west to east or

vice versa.

It's hard for your body to align its internal clock to a new time zone – that's why you

experience all kinds of annoying symptoms, from headaches to a loss of appetite.

Your meal and sleep schedules are all messed up, you feel lively at night and groggy during

the day...

Ugh!

Shall I keep going?

Almost every airline passenger has experienced jet lag at least once during their traveling

career.

And still, there are lots of myths surrounding this bothersome phenomenon!

- For example, many people believe that the reason for jet lag is a mere lack of sleep.

But jet lag has more to do with your body clock being used to the light/dark cycles

of your home time zone.

That's why it gets terribly confused when you reach a destination with a totally different

light/dark cycle.

- "To fight jet lag and arrive someplace as fresh as a daisy, just take a good sleeping

aid."

Sorry, folks, it doesn't work this way.

There's no magic way to deal with jet lag once and for all because, again, it's not

only about sleep.

Plus, flight attendants could tell you a story or two about the unpleasant outcomes of passengers

taking something to try to sleep.

- There's a misconception that red-eye flights (those departing at night and arriving in

the morning) help you cope with jet lag better.

Trust me, if you aren't a lucky first-class passenger, your bed will win in the competition

with an airplane seat, hands down.

Better take a day flight and have a nap after you land - you'll have more strength to combat

jet lag.

- "Jet lag can hit you no matter where you're going."

Um, not really.

If you fly south to north or the other way (meaning you stay in the same time zone),

jet lag won't be an issue.

Sure, if it's a 10-hour-long flight, you're bound to feel tired, dehydrated, and kinda

numb all over your body.

But all this will pass after a good night's sleep.

Flying from east to west and vice versa is another story.

Such journeys DO lead to jet lag, and this condition is no joke.

Regular flyers know for sure that it takes much longer to recover after traveling east

than when you're heading west.

This paradox had remained unsolved until physicists cracked the mystery!

They used a mathematical model which demonstrated that particular brain cells (called neuronal

oscillator cells) react differently depending on whether you're traveling west or east.

These are the very cells that regulate your circadian rhythm – your 24-hour “internal

clock” that’s responsible for your sleep-wake cycle.

When you travel to a place with a time zone different from your home one, the cells can't

get used to this new environment fast enough.

Displeased, they revolt by messing up your sleep pattern, metabolism, and many other

bodily processes.

This turmoil lasts for at least a few days after your relocation.

But let's return to the question of why flying east tires you more.

When you fly westward across several time zones, you'll automatically make your day

longer because it'll be earlier at your destination than at home.

Flying eastward will shorten your day because when you arrive, it'll be later than in the

time zone you left.

Those neuronal oscillator cells follow a cycle that's actually about 30 minutes longer than

24 hours.

That's why it makes it easier for you to extend the length of your day than to shorten it.

Those physicists’ mathematical model has proven this.

It showed that if you travel across 3 time zones heading westward, you'll be totally

fine in 3 days or so.

After flying across 6 time zones, you'll need about 6 days to recover.

If you're going east, though, it'll take you at least 4 days to adjust to the new environment

after crossing 3 time zones.

For 6 zones, the recovery time will extend up to 8 days!

By the way, some people deal with jet lag better than others - all thanks to their natural

brain cell cycle.

It varies from person to person.

While you may have a 24.5-hour circadian rhythm, other people's rhythms can be shorter or longer.

It's the difference between your brain cell cycle and 24 hours that determines how bad

your jet lag will be.

The researchers have created this time-zone theory based on their knowledge about the

human brain.

They haven't tested it experimentally yet, but when they do, it'll hopefully help travelers

better deal with that post-flight lag.

Make sure to tell me what you do to get over jet lag down in the comments!

As for me, I have some of my own tricks… plus what the experts recommend.

Even if you can’t avoid it altogether, at least you can make it more bearable!

- Get a good rest and plenty of sleep before your trip.

Pre-flight stress and late-night packing will wear you down and make your jet lag worse.

- Cut down on caffeine - not right before your flight, like most travelers do, but 12

to 24 hours in advance.

It'll prevent your body from getting overstimulated, and you'll fall asleep at a reasonable hour

in a new time zone.

- If you're going to have a night flight and sleeping on a plane is a problem for you,

prepare for the journey in advance.

Pack a sleeping mask, neck pillow, and earplugs, and wear comfortable clothes.

- Try to move as much as you can before and during your flight.

Staying in one place for a long time will make your shoulders, hips, and back feel tight.

A deep lunge or a squat here and there, stretching your arms overhead - you'll feel much better!

- Figure out whether you should sleep on the plane or not before your flight.

It all depends on the local landing time.

If you arrive in the evening, sleeping on board can lead to a restless night and ruined

first day.

If it's morning when you arrive, it's better to have at least a nap on the plane - then

you'll be more or less fresh when you reach your destination.

- Drink lots of water.

Proper hydration will help your body adapt to a new time zone faster.

You can also snack on water-rich foods like berries, tomatoes, celery, or cucumbers.

- As soon as you land, start moving.

However impossible it may sound, a workout will get your circadian rhythm back on track.

- Adjust the temperature in your room so that it's a bit on the cool side.

It'll help you fall asleep faster and have better sleep quality.

Also, remember to keep your room pitch dark: it'll boost the production of melatonin - the

hormone responsible for the sleep-wake cycle.

By the way, few people know that flying isn't the only cause of jet lag.

Let's say you follow a totally different schedule on your weekdays and on the weekend.

Then your internal clock can also fall out of sync.

This phenomenon even has its own name - "social jet lag"!

Now imagine going to bed at 2 AM and waking up at 11 AM on Saturday while you're usually

asleep from 11 PM to 6 AM on workdays.

No wonder it can lead to a confusing mismatch between your internal ticker and the real

time!

Jet lag might spoil the first few days of your vacay, but it can also get you some of

the best travel experiences!

Being fresh and energetic, you can have a late-night excursion and admire the city lights.

Or it won't be an issue for you to wake up super-early to see a breathtaking sunrise.

Just go with the flow and, well, look on the Bright Side!

And if you learned something new today, then give the video a like and share it with a

friend!

Here are some other cool videos I think you'll enjoy.

Just click to the left or right, and, like I said, remember to stay on the Bright Side

of life!