View from a frequent US East-Asia flyer...
Watch Wolf of Wall Street, that'll give you many ideas.
I fly trans-Atlantic and connect in EU on my way to Asia. The longer your flight and more connections you have, the more gradual your adjustment. Gradual is better. If you're flying nonstop New York - Hong Kong (or any US East to China East flight) then you'll get the worst jetlag ever since there is a 12 hour difference.
Start early. If you're flying US-EU-Asia, go to sleep earlier than usual. Sleep at 7pm starting 2-3 days before your flight. If you're flying US-Asia, sleep late. Go clubbing in NY and go to bed at 4 or 5am. Keep that up for 2-3 days.
If you are connecting in EU, make your connection(s) a long one and venture into the city. Tire yourself out so you can sleep well on the plane.
Don't stuff yourself during your flight. But don't skip the food altogether either. Eat lots of greens, proteins, go easy on carbs.
Some people say no booze at all, but what's the fun in flying first class if you don't drink? I say no red wine or beer. Have your beer if you aren't afraid of getting gaseous. Load up on Dom, Krug, and JW Blue. I don't care if you're afraid of jetlag, if something is $150USD+/bottle, you better drink at least one damn glass.
After landing, if you're feeling fine, great, don't rest. If you get in HK in the morning or afternoon, and go straight to relax somewhere, all your hard work is wasted. Go sightseeing, go walk around some park, go work out at your hotel gym. No naps. If you're not feeling so energized after you land, take some adderall. Unlike cocaine, adderall is okay according to customs and immigration. If you don't know where to get adderall, ask your teenager's friends. If you don't have kids, ask your college roommate who never graduated.
And other misc notes...
A quick face wash with cold water does wonders, short-time. Cold water showers will do the same, but makes you more uncomfortable.
Coffee usually doesn't work. It doesn't make you awake, it just makes you unable to fall asleep when you're tired.
Work out before you sleep (at night). But in this case, sex does not count as work out.
Wake up on time. Doesn't matter if you only got 3 hours of sleep last night. You'll sleep better tonight if you're tired this morning.
If you have the option, fly on Boeing 787. If that's not an option, fly on Airbus A380. If that's not an option, fly on Boeing 777-300ER. These three planes have great humidity and pressure control on board. On these planes your nasal passages will not be so dried out. The difference between the 787/A380 versus the Boeing 747 is night and day.
[ Last edited by redgatorade at 2-9-2014 02:11 ] | |