Jet lag occurs when you cross several time zones and you body has trouble adjusting to the new sleep times and mealtime. Everyone is different, but everyone will benefit from sleep on the plane since we all will lose that night. Greece is 7 hours ahead of us, so on the plane, have your dinner and go to sleep as best you can (5mg Melatonin helps). The key is to get on the schedule of where you are going as soon as the plane departs and to stay on it. Some people start this adjustment days earlier by going to bed earlier than normal and getting up early.
My list of do’s and don’ts is below:
Do get as much sleep as you can on the plane
Do hydrate
Don’t drink too much alcohol, even though it may be free on your plane 😊
Do stay awake on your first night in Greece until at least 9PM
Do not sleep in the next day on your first night
Don’t take a nap the afternoon when you arrive
Here are a couple of other airplane tips:
Check in early, get to the airport about 3 hours before your flight. I get there 4-5 hours early and relax with a good meal.
Bring a light change of clothes on the plan with you in case there is a delay in getting your luggage. For Greece I’ll pack a pair of shorts.
Buckle your seatbelt over your blanket, otherwise you will be woken during the seatbelt checks.
Turn off your phone completely to save the battery.
Get up, walk and stretch once in a while if you are awake.
Bring a toothbrush and toothpaste to freshen up before landing.
You will get fed well but pack a few extra snacks just in case.
Moisturize, the air is extremely dry.
Bring eyedrops if you need them for your dry eyes.
Adjust your watch to the current time at your destination when the flight starts.