Wow. We returned to Fort Lauderdale today, June 2, from the Book Expo in LA at 5:15am. We took a flight that left at 9:30 pm Pacific Time on June 1, which is 12:30 am Eastern Time. Let’s face it, NO ONE can travel like that without experiencing significant jet lag (and new wrinkles around the eyes.)

I feel like (and look like) I’ve fallen down a few flights of stairs, and frankly, so does my 15-yo daughter. She actually felt a bit queasy during the flight and had a nasty headache. Naturally, I packed the Tylenol in the checked luggage and did not have any in my carry on. I find that particularly interesting, since I had just about everything else in my heavy carry on bags. But here’s something I learned – Flight attendants usually have pain relievers in their stash.

Children and adults both feel the negative affects of jet lag. Here are a few thoughts:

1. Hydration – We’ve all heard repeatedly that flying is dehydrating. I, for one, do not need any scientific data on this, since I can conduct my own analysis from personal experience. I realize that I do not drink enough water when flying, because I dread asking the person next to me (and often waking him up) to get up and let me out of the row to use the facilities. I feel that it is rude. But since I never want to feel as bad as I do today again, I will not worry about burdening the passenger next to me so much in the future. This brings me to another question. Why don’t I just book an aisle seat next time? Oh yes. I don’t book an aisle seat because then I will repeatedly be asked to get up to let someone else out who needs to use the facilities. So the bottom line is that everyone needs to drink extra water while flying. That means kids and adults alike. And no, sugary soft drinks do not hydrate. Water is best. So what have I learned? The entire day before any future flight I take, I will drink extra water.

2. Sleeping – Am I the only person on the planet who has NEVER fallen asleep on a plane or in a car? I have flown to Europe and have been the only passenger awake on the flight the entire time. If a flight is leaving when you would normally be sleeping at your destination, then do try to sleep. Only do not ask me for tips on how to get to sleep on a plane, because I just informed you that I cannot figure this one out myself. Last night I tried the eye mask and ear plugs offered to me by the flight attendant. The mask was so tight I still have the markings in the shape of a Mardi Gras mask on my face. And the earplugs were quite painful, plus they did not mask the sound of this unruly 12 year old boy in front of me, who fought with his sister and had a barking cough that I wish I could forget. Very young children seem to be most affected by jet lag, when they miss their routine napping schedules. So all I can say about that is, try your bet to encourage them to nap on the plane if that is when they’d be napping at home. I’d suggest bringing their own pillow and blanket and, of course, their favorite stuffed animal.

3. Food – Eating junk the day of traveling is a very bad idea. There are consequences for eating empty calories, fatty foods and sugar at any time, but they seem worse when flying. I find I feel better if I eat light meals before a long trip. And just because the flight attendants stroll the aisles with bags of chips and cookies, does not mean you have to eat them. If it is in the middle of the night, when you would normally be sleeping instead of eating, then it is okay to NOT eat. If you are the snacking type, plan ahead and bring an apple or some sort of nuts on board. And don’t feed your kids a bunch of candy and caffeine, and then expect to have a pleasant traveling experience. Those around you will not appreciate it either.

There are many more important points I’d like to share about jet lag and airplanes, but due to severe “West to East Coast” jet lag, I must go get some sleep.

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