Exploring 5 Jet Lag Remedies: AFAR Editors’ Experiments on Their Travels

Jet lag, the bane of many travelers’ existence, often disrupts vacations and business trips alike with its suite of uncomfortable symptoms. In an effort to find effective strategies to combat this travel nuisance, AFAR editors put various jet lag remedies to the test during their global adventures. From fasting and aromatherapy to grounding and homeopathic pills, here’s a detailed look at what they discovered.

Jet Lag Remedies

1. Fasting

Aislyn Greene, AFAR’s associate director of podcasts, turned to fasting—a popular biohacker tactic. The approach is simple: avoid food (except water or herbal tea) for roughly 16 hours before landing, then break the fast with a meal timed to the local schedule. The idea is that fasting cues the body to “pause” its internal clock until the next meal, making it easier to sync to a destination’s time zone.

Greene fasted for 17 hours before touching down in Ireland and followed up with a healthy, well-timed meal. The results were impressive—she felt alert and free of the fog that normally hits after a long-haul flight. She credits part of the success to skipping sugary, salty airplane meals, which can spike energy and worsen dehydration. For travelers disciplined enough to try it, fasting could be a worthwhile tool.

2. Aromatherapy

AFAR contributor Maggie Fuller went a gentler, more sensory route: aromatherapy. Using the Jet Lag Recovery Kit from Sodashi—a calming blend of gels and mists—Fuller turned her long flight into a spa-like experience. While it was hard to quantify whether aromatherapy directly minimized jet lag, she appreciated the ritual. The refreshing scents, grounding breathwork, and moment of relaxation made the flight more enjoyable and less exhausting.

However, the effects were less noticeable on the trip home. Fuller concluded that while aromatherapy may not be a cure, it can improve comfort and mood, which indirectly helps the adjustment process.

3. Grounding

Inspired by wellness trends championed by celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, contributor Sara Button tested grounding, also known as “earthing.” The remedy involves walking barefoot on natural surfaces—grass, soil, sand—to help the body recalibrate.

In Venice, finding a place to go barefoot wasn’t easy, but Button eventually succeeded in a local park. Surprisingly, the simple act of connecting physically with the earth seemed to ease her transition into the new time zone. Whether it was the grounding itself or simply spending time outside, she felt noticeably better. It’s a low-effort, pleasant option for travelers willing to kick off their shoes.

4. Homeopathic No Jet Lag Pills

Contributor Sarah Buder chose a more traditional approach: No Jet Lag, a well-known homeopathic pill marketed to combat time-zone fatigue. During an intense trip to New Zealand—one of the world’s toughest long-haul journeys—she followed the recommended dosage.

While not a miracle cure, the pills appeared to support her adjustment, smoothing out energy dips and helping her stay functional. She wasn’t bounce-off-the-walls energetic, but she avoided the debilitating fog many travelers experience.

5. Clock-Blocking

Deputy Editor Katherine LaGrave adopted a psychological approach dubbed “clock-blocking,” where she switched her watch to the destination’s time zone upon boarding the flight and committed to living by that time. This method, while simple, proved effective in helping her adjust to Tokyo’s time zone, underscoring the power of mental discipline in combating jet lag.

Each editor’s experiment revealed that while there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution to jet lag, various strategies can offer relief and enhance the travel experience. Whether through dietary adjustments, sensory experiences, natural methods, homeopathic remedies, or psychological tactics, travelers have a range of options to explore in their quest to conquer jet lag and enjoy their journeys to the fullest.

From fasting and grounding to aromatherapy and clock-blocking, the editors’ experiments showed that jet lag remedies aren’t one-size-fits-all. What works for one traveler may do little for another. But the takeaway is encouraging: there are multiple strategies worth trying, and many are free, simple, and surprisingly effective.

For travelers hoping to maximize every minute of their trip, experimenting with these techniques could lead to smoother landings, quicker adjustments, and more energized adventures—even across the world’s longest flights.

Sources: airguide.info, bing.com

More Jet lag tips: Expert Tips to Beat Jet Lag