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<\/p>\nWHAT DECISION SCIENCE NEWS HAS LEARNED ABOUT JET LAG<\/p>\n
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Since Decision Science News moved to London in 2005, its numerous staff have many trips between the US and Europe. In all of this going back and forth, the DSN staff has figured out how to completely beat transatlantic jet lag. The secret is realizing that “jet lag” isn’t the problem.<\/p>\n
What is jet lag? Webster’s defines it as “a condition that is characterized by various psychological and physiological effects (as fatigue and irritability), occurs following long flight through several time zones, and probably results from disruption of circadian rhythms in the human body”. Decision Science News prefers the shorter and more accurate “baloney”.<\/p>\n
Travelers don’t feel lousy after flying to Europe because of the new-agey concept of jet lag. They feel lousy because of sleep deprivation.<\/p>\n
A typical NY to London flight leaves at 10PM and lands at 10AM (5AM New York time). In New York, passengers usually don’t sleep during taxi, takeoff and a movie, which puts them to bed around 1AM. Then they sleep, but wake up soon after for their omelette, melon, and landing procedures that start around 4AM (NY time). A little advanced algebra shows that 1AM to 4AM makes for only 3 hours of sleep. The disciplined can squeeze in 4 hours, but nobody, even braggarts, feels good after 3-4 hours of sleep.<\/p>\n
We at DSN posit that the transatlantic trip feels lousy because of sleep deprivation, not because of jet lag. Since this is a science website, let’s consider the evidence:<\/p>\n
Fine, it’s not jet lag. But how, the DSN reader may ask, does this help us? As our parting words, we leave you with The Decision Science News Guide to Feeling Great after the Transatlantic Trip from the US to Europe.<\/p>\n
The Decision Science News Guide to Feeling Great after the Transatlantic Trip from the US to Europe
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) so you will have no choice but to get up after 2 hours. Despite our claims about feeling great, this will actually feel lousy, but is the only tough part. After said nap, you have lengthened your total sleep from 3-4 hours to 5-7 hours. Thanks to the well known phenomenon of arrival adrenaline, you will easily power through to a normal local bedtime. The next day, you’ll feel surprisingly well adapted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n