What should you know about no jet lag?

Jet lag happens when the body clock is out of step with the local light, meal and sleep schedule after travel across time zones. Some travellers notice no symptoms, while others develop Difficulty Sleeping, early waking, daytime tiredness, poor concentration or Headache. Flight timing, direction of travel, sleep before the trip, light exposure and individual sleep patterns can influence the experience.

If you feel well and are sleeping normally at your destination, there is no need to create a problem by taking a sleep product. A short-lived change after travel is different from Insomnia, which involves ongoing difficulty sleeping or its daytime effects.

Keep a regular local schedule, seek daylight at an appropriate time, drink water, eat lightly if your stomach is unsettled, and avoid driving when sleepy. Gentle activity can help you stay awake until a suitable local bedtime. Avoid alcohol as a sleep strategy and check medicines with a clinician before using them for travel.

If travel repeatedly disrupts your sleep, discuss Insomnia Management or a Travel Health Consultation before the next journey. A clinician can consider your route, timing and medical history.

Arrange medical review if sleep disruption or daytime sleepiness continues after you have returned to your usual routine, or if headaches are severe or recurrent. Seek urgent help for sudden severe headache with weakness, confusion, fainting, chest pain or breathing difficulty.

Could my ongoing sleep problem be Insomnia rather than jet lag? How should I time light, sleep and medicines for my route? Would a Travel Health Consultation be useful before my next trip?