How long does it take to fix jet lag?

The general rule of thumb is that it takes almost a day for every time zone you cross to overcome jet lag. So, for that New York to London flight we mentioned earlier, you'd be crossing five time zones, so it could take you about five days to adjust.



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Jet lag lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. View Source . In general, symptoms persist for 1-1.5 days per time zone crossed, but the duration of symptoms varies depending on the person and their trip details.

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Duration of Jet Lag: How Long It Lasts
Researchers have found that, on average, it takes people about one day to adjust for each 1 to 1.5 hours of time change. So if you fly from the East Coast to the West Coast, which is a three-hour time difference, you should be over your jet lag in two to three days.

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If you're traveling east to west, from Rome to San Francisco, jet lag could last four to five days -- about half the number of time zones crossed. Jet lag is generally worse when you “lose time” traveling west to east. If you're an older adult, jet lag may hit you harder and recovery may take longer.

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If you need it, taking a short nap can help you stay awake during the day. But napping for more than 30 minutes can keep you from falling asleep at night. Try to stay awake until your normal bedtime and get up on time the next day.

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Common ways pilots avoid jetlag is staying hydrated, good rest, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, exercising, or sleeping on the airplane. For long-haul flights airlines use multiple pilots for the flight to allow each pilot to get some rest. The more time zones that are crossed, the worse the jet lag.

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Adjustment to a new time zone is harder when traveling east than traveling west. This is because you “lose” time and you end up trying to fall asleep when your body is actually waking up.

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It is a temporary sleep problem that usually occurs when you travel across more than three time zones but can affect anyone who travels across multiple time zones. Jet lag can affect your mood, your ability to concentrate, and your physical and mental performance.

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Is there anything you can do to avoid jet lag?
  1. Start adjusting light exposure before your trip to decrease the length of time you will feel jet lagged. ...
  2. Consider taking melatonin supplements if you're traveling east. ...
  3. Time your flight. ...
  4. Try to sleep during your flight. ...
  5. Avoid long layovers in extra time zones if you can.


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The maximum jet lag that you can experience is 12 hours. If the difference between your flight's departure point and its destination exceeds 12 time zones, then you have to subtract the actual number of time zones from 24 to calculate the actual number of hours of jet lag that you will feel.

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The best time to fly to Europe
If you want to avoid jet lag as much as possible, try to find a flight that arrives in Europe in the mid-afternoon or evening. This means leaving North America in the early morning.

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If traveling west, crossing multiple time zones, as long as you're not traveling late at night already, have a cup of coffee or two pre or mid-flight to help your body adjust to time lost. If traveling east, avoid consuming coffee before or during your flight as this can exacerbate the effects of jet lag.

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The term jet lag is used because before the arrival of passenger jet aircraft, it was uncommon to travel far and fast enough to cause desynchronosis. Travel by propeller-driven aircraft, by ship, or by train was slower and of more limited distance than jet flights, and thus did not contribute widely to the issue.

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