The Dean

I used to think jet lag was all in the mind, until I did a whole series of long-haul flights a while back.

Luckily that was holiday-related but this will be purely work.

Overnight tonight Bahrain-Dubai-Singapore, a couple of days there, then an 8-hour flight from Singapore to Sydney, two and a bit days there, and finally a FIFTEEN-hour night flight back from Sydney to Dubai, then Bahrain.

All in seven days.

I'm most concerned about falling asleep in an important meeting in Sydney sometime next Friday morning - or Thursday night Dean-GCC-time.

Any suggestions? (And don't bother suggesting 'avoid alcohol on the planes' - I will be drinking, at least moderately.)

Confucius

Two (2) suggestions:
1-Don't take a plane.
2-Go to your nearest Kinko's and do teleconferencing...

still.unsure

here's one that i've used when going between west-coast US, oz and India (you cross a date line and man, that really screws you up...)

- if you can, try fasting for about 8 hours before you get on the plane and try not to eat (but drink water) whilst on the flight. the idea is that your metabolism slows for the flight and you 'spark it up/realign' when you eat when you get there. limited success with this one but has worked quite well between oz and india

i've tried the melatonin trick too but that just seemed to make it worse (and it requires a 'script in some countries...). best cure was stay up late as long as possible on arrival, then crash and if you wake up in the middle of the night, a couple of scotches to get back to sleep!

best of luck!

AnotherWorld

Sleep as much as possible on board the aircraft.

The Dean

When you're as tall as I am, that's not easy.............

............ and what about the night flight back? Who sleeps for FIFTEEN hours?? I've never done that even in the most comfortable bed in the world.............

I'll know the words of every movie on the plane off by heart by the time I get back.

Roadking

Don't even attempt to sleep for 15 hours on a flight, drink for 7 of them then pass out for the other 8!

Squirty Cream

Oh God, I hate flying. I am usually the mad looking woman with wild hair and a scowl by the time I arrive and emerge from 50 blankets and one of those eye things - I sleep everytime.

I tell you what, if you have to stay up late, you can call me and I'll talk trivia to you for several hours which will numb your brain. You'll be able to board the plane in this trance-like state and by the time it wears off you'll be in Singapore. We could repeat the same exercise for the Singapore to Australia leg of your journey. I never have a problem talking about trivia for long periods and I sleep odd hours anyway.

You will also need some aromatherapy oils to sprinkle liberally around, something energising to keep you going when you are in meetings and something soothing for when you need to relax on the plane. Incense sticks are useful too, even if you don't use them you will feel comforted just by having them with you.

By the time you arrive back in Bahrain you'll probably slither down the steps of the plane - perhaps you should have a taxi home. God it's going to be awful, hope you are getting back with some time to adjust before you go back to work. Oh and don't forget to get some Gregorian chant, water and bird music to listen to. Massage always works wonders by the way and if all else fails you could take Simeon Struthers Seven Steps to the Secrets of Chess abridged Omnibus version, 1952 edition, reprint 1 in 1975. I could lend it to you but I don't think DHL would get it to you on time. It will bore you to tears and so aid restful sleep.

Can I be of further assistance or add any more advice?

MacScot

..having just done DXB to Melbourne and back via Singapore..have a few drinkies and food..no coffee (or take decaf) and try and sleep as much as possible. If it's an important meeting in Sydney...have a sleeping tablet on the Singapore to Sydney leg.

The Dean

Who did you fly with?

(the airline, I mean, not your companion!!!)

Charismatic

Google reveals Viagra is the answer (first hit!): http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...of_jetlag.html

So if you don't mind walking into meetings with a tenting crotch and having to explain that it's not that you're really happy to see everybody....

MacScot

Emirates..business class. Great with the new lie flat (well at least flat but on an angle) on their Boeing 777-300s. Still expensive though -- 37,560 dirhams for two people..just missed out on their airfare reductions that are now in place !!

The Dean

Do Emirates fly Singapore-Melbourne?? They don't fly Singapore-Sydney (although bizarrely they DO fly Bangkok-Sydney).

Blue Cat

if you can sleep the time difference of your destination it helps. If I fly to the UK and get three hours sleep I am normally absolutely fine. YOu can also take melatonin? I think this helps.

MacScot

Yes, Emirates flies to Melbourne from Dubai via Singapore and also direct.

DXB to Sydney the stopover is Bangkok else direct via the superjumbo A380.

Autonomy

if you can, this works for me usually... no matter what local time you fly, you must stay awake until you go to bed at 10pm at least local time where ever you are. At this point you will usually be so tired, after 30 hours plus awake and sleep the whole night....

this worked recently dxb to lax... and many other places