Everyone knows the feeling of getting off of a long flight, and feeling like a wrung out washcloth. Air travel can really take it out of you, and in the modern day and age where flight is becoming more and more important to our business and personal life, you need to know the best ways to recuperate and recover so that you can get down to doing the things you flew in for in the first place.

One of the most important things that you need to do is to not ignore the effects that flight has on your body. Yes, you are busy, and yes, you may have a limited time at your destination, but if you want to be at 100% you need to listen to what your body is trying to tell you or it may take days to recover. A big part of this is to plan ahead, by scheduling meetings according to your home time zone so your internal clock doesn’t feel too off kilter. Also plan whether or not it would be a good idea to sleep or stay awake on your flight, depending on where you are going and how long the flight is.

Also, it’s important to remember to stay hydrated, and exercise on the plane by walking up and down the aisle, and stretch, in order to keep your blood flowing. As much as possible stay away from caffeine and alcohol on the plane, since they are both diuretics and make you have to go to the restroom more often.

Lastly, if you land and need to stay awake, obviously some coffee or tea will help you do the trick, but also in the morning after you land go for a walk or exercise in the room with the curtains open. This will wake you up faster and stimulate your body to help reset your natural clock to fit your location.

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