Jet Lag and Beyond: Exploring the Connection Between Travel and Sleep Quality

Traveling to faraway countries and tourist spots has been an important experience for many people. It allows for a deeper appreciation of diverse cultures and oneself. This gives individuals an opportunity to immerse themselves in different ways of life, learn new languages, taste diverse cuisines, and witness unique traditions that cannot be achieved through domestic travel.

While international travel can be a worthwhile investment, going to a new time zone can bring several challenges. Jet lag is a prevalent issue for many people, significantly impacting the overall travel experience and well-being of travelers. This requires travelers to adopt coping mechanisms that can maintain their health and maximize rest during the trip.

Learning how travel can impact sleep quality and how investing in a portable mattress helps deal with jet lag can ensure a more productive and enjoyable trip.

Understanding Jet Lag

Jet lag is characterized by a physiological condition stemming from a disruption to the natural body clock or circadian rhythm caused by long-distance travel across multiple time zones. The disruption will lead to the misalignment between the traveler's usual internal clock and the local time at the destination, causing several symptoms, including:

• Fatigue: The body's struggle to adapt to the new schedule can lead to persistent feelings of tiredness. Travel fatigue is caused by potentially long hours of traveling and the misalignment of the natural sleep-wake cycle.
• Insomnia: Apart from fatigue, jet lag can also result in several sleeping disorders, such as insomnia. This usually happens because the sudden change in time cues throws off the production of melatonin, making it hard to fall or stay asleep in local time.
• Irritability: Jet lag can lead to mood swings and irritability as the disruption of sleep and internal clock affects the regulation of cortisol and serotonin, hormones that influence one’s mood. The lack of rest can make travelers more prone to emotional ups and downs, affecting their interaction with others and overall enjoyment of their trip.

While jet lag can happen to anyone flying to different parts of the world, it is believed that traveling eastward can cause more severe jet lag than a westward trip. This is mostly because the body is able to adapt quicker to staying up late compared to a shorter day.

Factors Affecting Sleep Quality During Travel

It is already a given that traveling to new time zones will have a significant impact on sleep quality, but several other factors can lead to sleep disruptions. This includes:

• Flight-related Factors: Various things on the flight can impact one’s sleep at their destination, including seat comfort and in-flight entertainment. The cramped and limited recline of economy class seats can also make it hard to get a comfortable sleeping position. Meanwhile, in-flight entertainment and electronic device use makes it harder to relax and fall asleep.
• Accommodation-related Factors: Bed comfort in the chosen accommodation can make it hard to maintain the same sleep quality. The lack of a high-quality mattress can lead to poor sleep and physical discomfort. In addition, external noise from the street or other guests can also disrupt sleep.

Strategies to Mitigate Jet Lag and Improve Sleep Quality

• Pre-travel Preparations

  Preparing days before the flight can help prevent the development of a sleep disorder like insomnia once travelers arrive in the new time zone. For starters, gradually adjusting your sleep schedule to match the destination’s local time can help reduce the body’s shock of sudden time changes.

  You can also start strategizing your meal time to help signal your body when it should be awake and when it should rest. In addition, travelers should be exposed to natural or artificial light, which can help the body adjust to the local schedule and mitigate the symptoms of jet lag.

• During Travel

  Staying hydrated throughout the travel time is crucial, as dehydration can aggravate symptoms of jet lag, including fatigue and headaches. Drinking plenty of water throughout the journey maintains optimal hydration levels and prepares travelers to adjust to the new time zone upon arrival.

  People can also choose to wear eye masks and other products that help them block out light from inside or outside the plane, especially if they are arriving at night.

• Post-arrival Adjustments

  Upon arrival, it is crucial to start living in local time to prevent a disrupted night of sleep. Travelers who will arrive in the daytime should try to stay awake (with little to no naps) until a reasonable local bedtime to sync their clock with the new environment. It is also helpful to create a bedtime routine in the destination to ensure that travelers will go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.

The Role of a Portable Mattress

Purchasing a portable mattress might not be a first thought for many travelers, but it can be a game-changer for frequent flyers. Portable mattresses can provide optimal sleep quality on the go, helping maintain the traveler’s preferred support and comfort. This is crucial as accommodation beds can be quite unpredictable and might lead to uncomfortable nights.

And if you are looking for the best portable mattress to bring on your next travel adventures, then the AiR Mobile Mattress of AiR by nishikawa is for you. Our mattress is designed to effectively distribute body weight throughout the contact layer, helping reduce stress in various pressure points of the body while sleeping.

The filling is made with 100% urethane foam, and the cover is made with polyester and cotton, providing the necessary breathability for a good night’s sleep. The AiR Mobile Mattress is highly versatile, allowing people to quickly set it up wherever they might be staying. It also comes with a bag that makes it ideal for people who travel often, making it very convenient for travel.

If you have any further inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us.

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