Message from our Board Chair

Hello Friends in Travel!

I just returned from the annual HCI Advisory Board Meeting in Lafayette, Louisiana, the location of 2023 Peer Group. What a fascinating area! We accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, and I know you are going to have a great time in Lafayette! Be warned, they will tell you that the food is not spicy but has a depth of flavor. Well, to this little Midwestern Norwegian-American that is all LIES. Their food is AMAZING but let’s call a spade a spade. It’s SPICY. You’ll love it!

We’ve been preparing here for a big travel year in 2023. We’ve booked two overseas trips (it was a risk but it paid off for our little club 😊) to Costa Rica in the Spring and Scandinavia in the Fall. We’re starting our wait-list for Scandinavia today. We’re very excited to bring our group to these amazing destinations, but as you know, it’s a very different experience being the group leader. This is not our vacation and we need to be en pointe at all hours of the day, no matter the time zone. I picked up some good tips from a Groups Today article on reducing the effects of jet lag and would like to share them with you:

1.     Before your trip, try to gradually shift your sleep and wake times closer to the time zone you’ll be traveling in several days before the trip – East = earlier and West = later. I know this isn’t always feasible, but every little bit helps.

2.     Once you board the plane, change your watch to the time of your destination. This helps your brain shift so that you are eating and sleeping on the time to which you are traveling. Stay hydrated, watch your caffeine intake and avoid alcohol. Invest in some earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, a good sleep mask and travel pillow to catch some zzzz’s on the plane.

3.     Once you arrive, plan a full first day and plan to stay awake until 10 pm. Avoid sugar, soak up some sunlight to help adjust your circadian rhythm, and try to stay in your normal routines (if you normally do a morning workout, stick with it). Napping may feel natural, but try to avoid it, you can feel “lost in time” if you nap too long. Some travelers use Melatonin to help regulate their sleep/wake times while traveling, but it’s important to talk to your doctor before doing so to avoid any contraindications. There are two recommended apps that help reduce jet lag – Timeshifter and Uplift. I plan to try both next year but am waiting until then because there is a fee, of course. 😊

4.     Once you are home, give yourself some grace. It will take at least 2-3 days to reacclimate. You’ll notice jet lag symptoms more when you return to your daily life routine. Stay hydrated, exercise and take breaks if needed.

Until next time,

Allison