Happy said:
If you can, fly in business or first class. You’re welcome
But that still might not help with the sleep issue during odd hours. How do you avoid oversleeping?
On long flights, the cabin lights are adjusted to help you adapt to your destination’s sunlight. Get up when the lights come on and vice versa. Being well-rested when you arrive will help you stay up until it’s bedtime there.
I’m about to take a 14.5-hour flight crossing the dateline. Help!
Rin said:
I’m about to take a 14.5-hour flight crossing the dateline. Help!
I did a round trip from Boston to Hong Kong, which was over 16 hours each way. On the way there, I left at around 1:30 AM and managed to sleep pretty well on the plane since I was tired when I boarded. Wear comfortable clothes, download shows, movies, books, or podcasts to keep you entertained. Noise-canceling headphones are a lifesaver. They serve meals, but bring snacks and water. Eye masks and earplugs can also help if you’re able to sleep with them on.
Crossing the dateline is a weird but cool experience! I left Boston at 1:30 AM and landed the next day at 4:30 AM. Coming back, we took off at 6 PM, passed midnight, crossed the dateline, and landed at around 10 PM, which felt like I got home just after midnight.
So, on the way there, I lost a day, and on the way back, I seemed to have two of the same day twice. If you’re traveling west, you might not feel a lot of jet lag, but traveling home east can take almost two weeks to recover from.
I’ve done almost the same trip except I stayed for 2.5 days and my flight was 13 hours.
I tried to adjust my sleep as much as possible while aiming for night time at my destination. Napping a little on the plane helped me. If you can, staying awake longer is key so that you are tired when it’s nighttime where you’re going.
That’s what worked for me.
@kb110659
It’s a bachelor party 
so I’m hoping to be energetic at night.
Nico said:
@kb110659
It’s a bachelor party
Exactly, prepare your body to feel tired when you’d be normally sleeping. That means pushing yourself to stay up a bit more in advance.
You should adjust easily when you get to Europe, but coming back will be tough, I promise.
The saying about east being a beast while west is best definitely applies.
Check out the Timeshifter app. It helps you manage light exposure, caffeine, and sleep time to adjust better.
Bao said:
Check out the Timeshifter app. It helps you manage light exposure, caffeine, and sleep time to adjust better.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Bao said:
Check out the Timeshifter app. It helps you manage light exposure, caffeine, and sleep time to adjust better.
I came here for this. I used to fly a lot from the UK to California, and this app was a lifesaver.
Drink a lot of water. Staying super hydrated will really help with jet lag. Get outside as soon as you can at your destination, and sleep when it’s dark. Your brain loves sunlight, and it helps keep you awake.
I used to fly around the world for work every week, spending just a night or two doing business.
Just sleep whenever you can. If you can’t fall asleep, don’t worry about it.
Make sure you eat, sleep, hydrate, and exercise.
Getting those right, plus a beer or two will help you feel good no matter the time or place.
Have fun, don’t stress about it too much.
Edit: Sometimes the only sleep I got all week was on the plane. If you can, fly in business or first class; it really makes a difference. But I’m fine with catching some sleep in coach too.
Don’t forget to download the Timeshifter app.
Stay awake until after takeoff, then try to sleep on the plane. You’ll wake up around 5 AM UK time, which aligns better with the daytime schedule.
Returning will be tough. I recommend taking the next day off to rest. Arrive at 8 AM, sleep until noon, force yourself to stay up until at least 9 PM, and then sleep again. You’ll get back on track.
I flew from Denver to Singapore on a Monday and was back home by Friday. I never changed my schedule.
Arrived in Singapore around 1 AM, got to my hotel by 3 AM, briefly checked out the rooftop pool at 5 AM, and then went back to sleep.
Afterward, I woke up around 11 AM, had a tasty meal at a hawker stall, chilled with a hotel shower, and then went out for dinner around 9 PM. Ended the night at the pool after midnight.
This worked well because it was a vacation, not for work.
If you’re busy with work, try to book a flight that lands by 10 AM local time. Use medications to help you sleep as much as possible while on the plane.
Keep in mind that the medications I use can kick in about 6 hours after taking them, so calculate that with the time zones to ensure you’re awake for the last hour and a half to two hours of the flight.
Have a small snack before you leave. Drink only water on the plane and try to sleep with some medical help if needed. I frequently take short trips from Tokyo to LA, which takes 16 hours and includes crossing 16 time zones. I wouldn’t want to do that in economy class due to distractions.
@Amir
That sounds tough, but actually, it’s only 8 time zones since the Earth is round 
.
Still, that’s stressful for a two-day trip!
Tan said:
@Amir
That sounds tough, but actually, it’s only 8 time zones since the Earth is round
Still, that’s stressful for a two-day trip!
Haha, good point. The main tip is to avoid alcohol on the flight, skip food, and get to your destination ready to go. Sleep according to the new time zone and do the same on the way back, even if that means hitting the hay immediately.
Check out the FlyteKitt app.
Bring some chocolate.