Jet-lag follow-up
Megan, on yesterday’s blog:
‘When I fly to the UK, it’s invariably an overnight flight en route there. This time around, I am getting on a plane at 4:30am UK time. So, really, I should be brought on to the plane already asleep for this system to work.’
Yes. Why is this a problem? You just need to organise it in advance with friends and family. Get to the airport several hours early in your pyjamas. Check bags in. Fall asleep. Have yourself conveyed onto the plane by your helpers, who have secured special permission to go through security by explaining that they are part of the Watson Anti-Jet Lag Campaign. You just need to think outside the box a bit, here.
Em was asking what happens if you struggle to sleep on planes. Clembear has made some excellent suggestions in the Comments. I would focus on one in particular: arrive tired. You need to be planning previous nights’ sleeps to leave you at the right sort of fatigue level for the big day of travel itself. Ideally you should begin regulating your tiredness level about three to four months before you are due to fly.
Tomorrow I’ll move on to other subjects.
Posted by Clembear on September 28, 2011
Em and Sam,
Rescue Remedy is a great salve to plane anxiety – I don’t like flying and it helps me sleep. Its a bit like drugs but with no cognitive or comedown effects – recommended. Like a big blanket of safe.
It also works on dogs and cats if you have any anxious pets.
Posted by DiB (Sue) on September 28, 2011
Been there done that. Brisbane to Heathrow and back, roughly three seven-hour flights in a row. For me there was no avoiding jet-lag so I had an extra week of holiday to get over jet-lag when I got back home…. jet lag is a good excuse for a nanna-nap in the afternoon.
Posted by EmT on September 27, 2011
Thanks for your advice Mark and Clembear, I will bear it all in mind for my next long haul travels which are in four months so I better start sorting out my levels of tiredness pretty soon… well now really. I am pretty tired now, will that help at all?
Sam… it is like you looked into my mind and wrote about my exact reasoning why I can’t sleep on flights. You didn’t did you?
Posted by Lydia on September 27, 2011
Sleeping is difficult. I don’t think I would be good at your method because flying (something I’ve never done) would probably make me anxious (because everything does), and when I’m anxious I get really tired, but my body refuses to let me sleep.
Posted by Sam on September 27, 2011
My inability to sleep on planes and therefore avoid jetlag is due to a combination of two factors:
1. I can’t sleep sitting up. I’m like the tiny tears doll I had when I was little – eyes will only stay closed when lying down. (Unfortunately I can’t afford the lying down seats).
2. I don’t like flying. So I can never fully relax enough to drift off. I’ve tried being really tired, I’ve tried having a few drinks and I’ve tried some over-the-counter sleepy-having potions. Nothing works.
So I feel that (unless my finances change significantly for the better) I’m destined to a life of being awake on planes. Unless I can find a way to try the Mr T (and Howard Hughes?) route of being knocked out before flying. That would solve the not sleeping and the notbeingentirelycomfortablebeingveryhighintheskyinbigmetaltube issues at the same time.
Posted by Clembear on September 27, 2011
I’m flying to Oz on Monday so will test this. There may be graphs (the mooted sequel to There Will be Blood)
Posted by Rachael on September 27, 2011
I might have to go on a long-haul flight just to prove the theory. Do you reckon I could government funding for doing the research? I’d quite like to go to Austalia.
Posted by Misha on September 27, 2011
The same is true of hospitals
Posted by Megan on September 27, 2011
In the unlikely event that there are Watsonians in the Ottawa area, who is up for helping me out? Heh.
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 27, 2011
Excellent, Jen … afraid my vibe machine will be on split mode tomorrow as the battle for football points continues … Sx
Posted by Rachel/Pandora on September 26, 2011
I’ve only ever flown properly once and got awful jet-lag, mostly cos I’d never been on a plane before and got far too excited to go to sleep, so spent the whole flight playing Tetris on the little telly and eating sweets, then when we arrived we charged about New York till about 5am.
Next time I will follow The Watson Rules.
Posted by Jen on September 26, 2011
Working late tomorrow BUT I’ll be ready with positive vibes Suzanne!Jx
Posted by Suzanne aka Senior Watsonian on September 26, 2011
I see your regime of planning WELL ahead re jet lag is also operational in your day to day life, Mark eg announcement approx 24 hours in advance of a move to subjects (aka topics?!!!) other than jet lag!!!
Btw, have YOU, Mark Watson, been crossing your fingers as and when suggested/requested when Bristol City are playing, as in tomorrow night??? Surely you’re not leaving it just to Jen and myself, are you???