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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Health & Science

Feeling Lethargic After Long Flights? Tips to Beat Jet Lag with Exercise from World Celebrities

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Celebrities like Cynthia Erivo and Maria Sharapova use exercise to combat jet lag.
  • Actor Daniel Dae Kim also relies on physical activity to adjust to new time zones.
  • Medical experts confirm that moderate cardio exercise, especially in sunlight, helps reset the body's internal clock.

Feeling sluggish after long-haul flights? Several international celebrities have shared their secrets to overcoming jet lag, with physical activity emerging as a key strategy. Actress Cynthia Erivo, also a marathon runner, emphasizes the importance of getting her heart rate up soon after landing in a new destination.

Former world number one tennis player Maria Sharapova adopts a similar approach. She often goes for runs or walks in natural outdoor spaces, sometimes barefoot, to speed up her body's recovery. "When I land, whether it's that night or the next morning, I go for a run right away. It really gets rid of the grogginess and stiffness," Erivo was quoted as saying by Travel + Leisure.

When I land, whether it's that night or the next morning, I go for a run right away. It really gets rid of the grogginess and stiffness.

— Cynthia ErivoDescribing her method for combating jet lag.

Actor Daniel Dae Kim notes that as he's gotten older, staying active has become even more crucial. While he could previously handle immediate activities and meetings after landing, even from transcontinental flights, he now prioritizes morning exercise in the new time zone. "If I can get my heart rate and metabolism going in the morning in the new city or country, it gives me the energy to get through the sleepy times in the middle of the day," he explained.

If I can get my heart rate and metabolism going in the morning in the new city or country, it gives me the energy to get through the sleepy times in the middle of the day.

— Daniel Dae KimExplaining his routine for adjusting to new time zones.

These celebrity anecdotes are backed by scientific evidence. Dr. Melissa O'Meara, a health expert at Vail Health Concierge Medicine, confirms a strong link between physical activity and the regulation of the human biological clock. Studies show that moderate-intensity cardio exercise, particularly when exposed to sunlight, can significantly shift the body's circadian rhythm over three consecutive days.

Dr. O'Meara suggests timing workouts based on travel direction. For eastbound flights, exercising around 7 a.m. or between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time is recommended. For westbound travel, the ideal time is between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. This targeted physical activity can reportedly accelerate the body's natural adaptation process by up to an hour per day. For extreme travel across more than eight time zones, additional strategies like melatonin supplements and pre-departure exercise timing may be necessary.

The timing of exercise is known to produce shifts in circadian rhythm that can help overcome jet lag.

— Dr. Melissa O'MearaExplaining the medical basis for using exercise to combat jet lag.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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