The best way to fight jet lag in your situation would be to try and get a couple of hours sleep on the plane. Then once you ge to London, stay awake the ENTIRE day and then go to bed that night at a reasonable hour to get a full nights sleep. This will be the most effective way to alter your internal sleeping clock to that of Londons.

In addition, try to stay hydrated. You’ll lose water more quickly at altitude. The recommendation is 8 ounces of water for every hour your fly. I recommend bringing your own big water bottle so you don’t have to worry about waiting for the flight attendent to come around. To help fight dehydration, also abstain from drinking alcohol on the flight.

Promote good circulation. I typically bring slippers or loose fitting shoes on the flight because your feet will swell. Get up and walk around a bit, and/or do the excercises they typically recommend in the flight magazine.

The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag-Diet

The Argonne Anti-Jet-Lag Diet is helping travelers quickly adjust
their bodies’ internal clocks to new time zones. It is also being
used to speed the adjustment of shiftworkers, such as power
plant operators, to periodically rotating work hours. The diet was
developed by Dr. Charles F. Ehret of Argonne’s Division of
Biological and Medical Research as an application of his fundamental
studies of the daily biological rhythms of animals. Argonne National
Laboratory is one of the US Department of Energy’s major centers of
research in energy and the fundamental sciences.

How to avoid jet lag:

1. DETERMINE BREAKFAST TIME at destination on day of arrival.

2. FEAST-FAST-FEAST-FAST – Start four days before breakfast time
in step 1. On day one, FEAST; eat heartily with high-protein breakfast
and lunch and a high-carbohydrate dinner. No coffee except between
3 and 5 p.m. On day two, FAST on light meals of salads, light soups,
fruits and juices. Again, no coffee except between 3 and 5 p.m. On day
three, FEAST again. On day four, FAST; if you drink caffeinated beverages,
take them in morning when traveling west, or between 6 and 11 p.m. when
traveling east.

3. BREAK THE FINAL FAST at destination breakfast time. No alcohol on the
plane. If the flight is long enough, sleep until normal breakfast time
at destination, but no later. Wake up and FEAST on a high protein
breakfast. Stay awake and active. Continue the day’s meals according to
mealtimes at the destination.

FEAST on high protein breakfast and lunches to stimulate the body’s
active cycle. Suitable meals include steak, eggs, hamburgers,
high-protein cereals, green beans.

FEAST on high carbohydrates suppers to stimulate sleep. They include
spaghetti and other pastas (but no meatballs), crepes (but no
meat filling), potatoes, other starchy vegetables, and sweet desserts.

FAST days help deplete the liver’s store of carbohydrates and prepare the
body’s clock for resetting. Suitable foods include fruit, light soups,
broths, skimpy salads, unbuttered toast, half pieces of bread. Keep
calories and carbohydrates to a minimum.

1 2 3 4
FEAST FAST FEAST FAST BREAK FINAL FAST

B high protein light foods high protein light foods Westbound: If you drink
caffeinated beverages,
take them morning
before departure.
Eastbound: take them
L high protein light foods high protein light foods between 6 and 11 p.m.
If flight is long
enough, sleep until
destination breakfast
time. Wake up and FEAST
S high carbo. light foods high carbo. light foods beginning with a high
protein breakfast.
Lights on. Stay active.

Coffee, tea, cola, other caffeinated beverages
allowed only between 3 and 5 p.m.

The last part of diet schedule didn’t print well. Here’s the website:

http://performance.n…

The "Jet-Lag" Pills that you can buy at Magellan.com or other similar stores seem to work for me. I used them on an extremely long (over 36 hour, with stopovers) flight from Bali, Indonesia via Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, LAX, and finally to Chicago and wasn’t TOO tired.

Of course, it’s always hard to tell if it’s just a thing you imagine that they work.

Hydration is really the best policy. Prob. best not to drink on the flights too (alcohol) as it dehydrates you more.

Lots of water!

-A

The London red-eye isn’t so bad. Just sleep for a few hours on the plane, drink lots of water, dress comfortably and avoid alcohol (like everyone else has advised!).

When they offer you the morning breakfast, have a cup of tea or coffee to get going before you get off the plane (you’ll need it to deal with the rush of immigration and baggage claim).

Don’t crash your first day in London until 8-9pm. You can take a quick nap in the afternoon, say 1 hour, but no more than that otherwise you won’t adjust.

On your second day, try to get up before 9am (might be a bit of a struggle), but after that you should be good.

It’s the trans-pacific flights that kill me. Asia and Australia are between 12-15 hours ahead of here…everytime I travel there I’m wiped out for days.

Agree with most of the advice above, but that jet lag diet is way too complicated for me. What part of the US are you traveling from? I find that I do better on the slightly longer 7-8 hour flights than the 5-6 hour ones.

I find I do better if I eat very lightly on the plane. Even with sleeping pills I sometimes don’t sleep and I finally decided it was because I was eating a big meal on the plane.

You’re going to be excited and find it hard to sleep. Accept that and don’t get too stressed out over it.

I usually try to get to my hostel, sometimes take a short nap, and I find that a shower really helps alot. I try to stay up until at least 2100 the first night.

Oddly enough, I usually do quite well on the trans-pacific flights. Better living through chemistry

If you’re one of those people with a set routine (always go to bed at 11:00 and get up at 7:00) it will help if you try to vary your routine for a few weeks before you leave home — get up earlier, go to bed later, etc. — kind of just get out of the habit…

quote: Hydration is really the best policy. Prob. best not to drink on the flights too (alcohol) as it dehydrates you more.

Lots of water!

Finally — don’t plan anything for arrival day. Just do what you feel like doing and nap or sleep if you’re absolutely exhausted

This is probably obvious, but still. If you wear contacts, keep them off for the length of the flight. Put them on upon arrival, or your eyes will sore because of dehydration.

1. Eat lightly your supper on the plane and then go to sleep. Reading a boring book is always a good idea to do this. Drink lots of water, only. Sleep as much as you can
2. When you arrive and get settled, take some vigorous activity – a jog + water. Go easy on the greasy food and soda pop for a couple days.
3. Stay up until 22.00 and then go to bed. If you awake frequently during the night, try to go back to sleep. Don’t get up.

What’s the worst that can happen anyway?

Sure-fire JetLag cure: (Besides the excitement of just arriving in EUROPE or wherever your dest. is, etc.)

1. 500mg Vitamin C (Can be Juice + pill)
2. 100mg Calcium + Zinc pill
3. 64 oz. of pure/bottled (very cold) water… (Expensive stuff!)
4. Depending on your type / take very hot or very cold (quick) shower…
5. Espresso or two, but always drink strong caffeine drinks AFTER you have taken vitamins, taken-in lots of water, and cycled some of it out already…
6. At the very least -a clean shirt &underwear…

This entire process takes about 45 to 60 mins, for me anyway… (Perhaps 3 hrs for somewomen!) – Ooops! Should I have said that??? Physically, and perhaps 40% mentally – this makes you feel like it’s a brand new day or week, in a brand new place – no matter what time you may arrive… Keep in mind; this system has worked for me many time, but this is based on the 7 to 10 hour, somewhat typical (12 hrs. with changeovers, etc.) trips to EUROLAND… It is sometimes impossible, at least one way or the other – to defeat Jetlag on trips (20+ hours in air) to Asia or Australia, etc. Those flights can be hard to overcome, especially once you get past 35 yrs old. Also, drink water and do some stretches or situps, if possible, on the plane – perhaps a few times on the way… It’s not that hard todo, if the flight is not full, and or you are on a 777 – with large restrooms, etc.

One more lil tip.. I have travelled with quite a few people who have allergies, and/or get sinus issues when coming & going between climates & time zones, etc. I suggest a very inexpensive semi-fix for this… You can purchase a natural herb called Echinacea(purpurea) for $5 or $6 (100 ct.) – in drug or health store… Take two or three of those per day, perhaps for a week – leading-up to your trip and during… seems to have helped a few people I know.

All of this advice sounds EXTREMELY complicated.

Look, here are the basics: Drink lots of water, get some sleep on the plane if you can, and then move onto local time the minute you arrive. Stay up as late as you can that first night even if you’re exhausted, and you’ll be back on schedule by day 2.

The rest is just details.

Seg: It is a bit of a pain to carry this extra stuff, and/or remember it all… However, once you hit 35 or 36, you need MORE than simple rest & water to get your energy back man!!! You must still be a puppy!

great suggestions everyone!! I am flying out from the eastcoast so I think the flight is about 6 hours if I am not mistaken. I was planning on brining a big bottle of water and some slight snacks (crackers, granola bars, etc). The staying awake as long as possible when arriving makes sense, but I will admit…I might be a tad bit cranky.

As much fun as it would be to drink on the plane, I think I will pass on that.

Also how difficult is the whole baggage, customs check procedure when I arrive in London?

It shouldn’t be too bad, yet, esp if you are not connecting. The Brits are pretty efficient and usually the security checks are well-staffed when I enter, both from within and outside the Schengen Union.

S2: Do you enjoy wine? I say that it is a shame for even casual or social drinkers to not have 2 or 3 drinks… You are paying for it – as cost of a certain avg. no. of drinks per person are figured-in to the cost of each seat on overseas flights, etc. I find that I can sleep much better if I have 2 to 4 glasses of wine during the first 3 hrs. of an eight hour (perhaps 9) flight… Makes me relax, and I do not get that full & hungover feeling when drinking wine. Red wine, especially in moderation – is very good for the heart & mind. There are plenty of anti-oxidants, not to mention the relaxation factor… I still feel a little nervous when flying, despite over 600,000 air miles to this date… After a few wines, a meal, and perhaps a good nap,, then it’s time to drink water & take your vitamins, etc. Besides, those of us flying from the Continental U.S. – normally arrive at our destination in Europe in the a.m. (EURO TIME), between 0700 & 1000 hrs…

Might as well have at least one or ten, as I always say! Especially when the plane is pre-loaded with beer, wine, & spirits, and you do not have to pay for them, like on U.S. in-country flights…

Sorry, but I fly frequently and I have to disagree with Sunskin. Alcohol and caffeine are both dehydrators, and the last thing you want to do on the plane is get dehydrated.

Sure, if it’s complementary than you’re probably paying for it and many people feel they "might as well" have one or three when offered. I’ve even done it myself once or twice.

However, if you’re looking to avoid jet lag, avoid avoid avoid. Instead, get a refill of water every time the beverage cart passes and even some times in between. On longer flights I usually bring my own water for the beginning, or else I ask the flight attendent to just bring me an entire 1.5L bottle of water. Getting up and walking around on long flights helps too.

jet lag really affects some and for some its no big deal,imo if your worried etc it’ll proabably affect you more.I personaly am up all night before I leave doing all those last minute things that should have been done months ago so by the time I get on the plane I have a beer and pretty much passout.upon arrival some coffee and I’m good to go,all but a little tired like I was out for the night.
As for london I forget where I read it but alot of people recomend taking the hop on off bus tour and I would too as it gives you a chance to relax and see a good bit of the city,get your bearings,figure out what you want to do etc etc.

My favorite remedy, 2 vodka cranberries, and one Tylenol PM and I am good to go on the plane… then I drink water when I get off (no problems with feeling the dehydration if you are sleeping) Just get sleep on the plane— it helps a TON

Then when I get to the destination, drop off my pack and go see some low key sites for the morning/afternoon and try to stay up and active til at least 8 or 9.

The next day I am good to go.

I’m glad this has worked with you, but mixing Tylenol (acetominophen) and alcohol is dangerous.

That is why I said to drink the first half or so of the flight to fight nervousness, and perhaps help you sleep,etc.. The last 3 or 4 hours, I totally agree…drink water.. I did say that. Besides, when you have an evening flight fromthe U.S. to Europe, having a few after dinner & evening cocktails, especially when starting your vacation journey – is the "thing" to do man!

I found it rather easy to adjust and it was a 8 hour time difference for me. I slept as much as I could on the plane and drank lots of water and then I think this is the most important part- Stay awake and see all the great sights YOu will be so pumped when you get there you will be surprised at how well you will do. My husband who is horrible w/out sleep did wonderful. We went to bed at 9pm thier time and felt great the next day.

Gogod Luck