Methods of jet lag mitigation for the international student

During international travel, a common conundrum is the mitigation of the phenomenon known as “jet lag”. Medically termed “desynchronosis”, jet lag is a physiological condition characterised by severe tiredness and other classically-associated symptoms resulting from travel across time zones. Methods of adaptation that have been tried and proven are discussed with regards to pre-, intra- and post-flight format. These techniques include modification of the classic light/dark and sleep/wake cycles, which act to dictate the body’s internal clock. By changing light exposure and overall sleeping patterns prior to and during the flight, the body is phase-shifted to the destination time zone at an accelerated rate. Furthermore, both pharmacological interventions and specific diets can aid in the phase shift to the destination time zone, thus minimising adaptation time of the circadian rhythm. This review outlines current methods which have been shown to result in prompt internal body clock modification to the destination time zone, successfully mitigating jet lag.