Should I nap after a long flight?

Limit naps in the days following your arrival.
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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Limit naps in the days following your arrival. 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.

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Prioritize rest. After a serious time-zone change, “I love to take a nap,” says Kristal Hicks of Top Tier Travel Group. Even if you're someone who can sleep on planes, a proper nap in a bed feels more restful, because you get to extend your body, Hicks says.

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Travel can be exhausting. Here are tips to feel whole again.
  1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Travel, especially on a plane, can be dehydrating. ...
  2. If you're not napping, stay engaged. ...
  3. Keep your blood flowing. ...
  4. Start moving ASAP. ...
  5. Get outside. ...
  6. Refuel with something satisfying or healthy. ...
  7. Prioritize rest. ...
  8. Take a shower or steam.


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How to aid recovery from long-haul flights
  1. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours.
  2. Go for a short burst of cardio. ...
  3. Keep drinking water.
  4. Sleep, or if you can't sleep, rest in a darkened room very soon after arriving at your final destination.
  5. And finally, if you can, get a massage within the first 24 hours of landing.


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Dryness and air pressure changes can affect your ears, sinuses & taste. A 3 hour flight can shed up to 1.5 litres of water from the body. Aeroplane cabin humidity levels as low as 4% can cause the mucous membranes of your nose, mouth and throat to dry out.

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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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Jet lag refers to the misalignment of your body's internal clock with the local time at your destination. This phenomenon often occurs when flying across three or more time zones. Jet lag can throw off your sleep and cause other bothersome symptoms that persist for days or even weeks after a flight.

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Air pressure is lower at higher altitudes, which means your body takes in less oxygen. Airlines “pressurize” the air in the cabin, but not to sea-level pressures, so there's still less oxygen getting to your body when you fly, which can make you feel drained or even short of breath.

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Suggestions on adjusting to your new time zone include:
  1. Expose yourself to daylight or, if this is not possible, bright light to help 'reset' your body clock. ...
  2. Drink caffeinated drinks in moderation during the day.
  3. Avoid alcohol or caffeinated drinks for a few hours prior to sleep at night.


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Jet lag symptoms usually occur within a day or two after traveling across at least two time zones. Symptoms are likely to be worse or last longer the farther you travel. This is especially true if you fly east. It usually takes about a day to recover for each time zone crossed.

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For travelers crossing =3 time zones, especially if they are on a long-haul flight, symptoms (e.g., tiredness) are likely due to fatigue rather than jet lag, and symptoms should abate 1–3 days post-flight.

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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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Jet belly: (noun) the bloated state in which your stomach inflates post-flight. Also, a very unpleasant feeling. May also make you look like you're 3 months pregnant. So how does one prevent this jet belly? Well, it all depends on what you eat on the plane.

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Bananas and dark chocolates are also great post-flight snack options as they help to ease tiredness and relax the muscles. A decoction of ginger in warm water addresses your digestive issues as well,” she says.

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