Avoiding Jet Lag When Visiting Europe

Traveling “across the pond” to Europe is an experience few travelers forget and many find themselves returning to different European countries in order to widen their horizons and experience different cultures. However, as interesting as European travel is, one hazard that many experience is jet lag.

Jet lag is caused by traveling through many time zones and operating on different schedules and it can work a number on one’s immune system. Here are some tips for staying healthy and avoiding some of the jet lag that can come from travel.

Trying to minimize actual jet lag is one of the basic ways of staying healthy on your trip. If it is possible, travelers should take an extra day at home in order to partially adjust their sleep schedule so they are on a schedule closer to what they will experience in Europe. They may not be able to make up all the time in a single day, but shifting their schedule a couple of hours can help boost their immune system and make it easier to stay healthy on their trip.

Another tip to avoid jet lag is to take time to adjust once the plane lands in Europe. It is tempting to try and see everything right away, but a nap before hitting Europe hard can keep Europe from hitting a traveler too hard. Many European destinations will still have “American” types of foods, and often it is a good idea to eat these if it is a traveler’s first time overseas. Once the proper adjustment period has passed, living like a native rather than a tourist can be enjoyed with less risk.

Any big event needs to be given the proper preparation in order to maximize its success. Travel to Europe is no exception. One thing that needs to be done several weeks or even months before a trip is purchasing international travel insurance. Although travelers want to do what they can to follow tips for staying healthy in Europe, nothing is completely foolproof. With the right travel insurance a traveler will be able to visit local doctors or other medical professionals if they do find themselves feeling unwell.