international travel and combating jet lag

This year, I got lucky.  I’m going to the US to visit my family for a few weeks for Christmas, and I ended up getting a business class(!) ticket on Lufthansa.  For various reasons, we ended up booking my flight much later than usual, and could only get the flights I needed using business class.  My husband was very jealous: he flies a lot for work (which has the benefit that we almost always fly using his miles), but he has only ever flown on an international flight with them once – and apparently it was awesome.

Me?  I thought it sounded cool, but I got really excited when I found out about two things: your chair reclines into an almost flat bed and you can take off your shoes and wear slippers they give you (I love slippers).  Multiple course meals designed by 5 star chefs?  Nope, this Narcoleptic is psyched about the “bed”!

If we ever become really wealthy, this is one thing that it might be worth paying extra for… lol.  I generally don’t sleep the greatest on planes anyways, except when I am ridiculously tired.  I sleep so lightly at night that the littlest thing wakes me up. 

Maybe I’ll be happier on this flight…

Anyway, I am psyched about business class and visiting my family, but I am NOT looking forward to the jet lag.  I’m not sure why this is exactly, but it takes way longer for me to adjust to time changes than other people (I’m guessing this is Narcolepsy again). 

The last time I flew back from the US, it took me at least a month to stop being extremely sleepy.  A month!  Even a shorter flight from California to Connecticut has a big effect on me for weeks.  It makes me think hard before I fly on a plane – business class or no.

But this year I decided I’m going to try something I haven’t done before, in hopes of combating the jet lag or at least making it not as bad: I am going to try using my light box to adjust myself.

(this is my light box above)

I’ve found other tips about adjusting, and I’ll do my best to use them, but I think this light box therapy idea is something that might make a huge difference.

Here is the article with the advice on how to use a light box to help you adjust to a time change due to travel.

I’m excited.  I hope it works! 

I’ll get back to you when I use this advice next week, as to whether it helps me or not.

Does anyone also struggle with unusual jet leg when you travel?  Have you tried this light therapy idea?