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Original poster

How long do you give yourself to get over jet lag before going back to work?

64 replies

atleastimtryin · 22/12/2022 09:29

I'm going to America next year which is the furthest place I've ever been, and I've never experienced jet lag before.

I'm going for a week, and will return early Saturday morning and am due to start work on Monday morning but I was wondering whether I should book a few days off for once I'm back (e.g. the Monday and Tuesday?) to give myself time to rest and recover? Or can I just go straight back on the Monday and push through?

What do you tend to do?

OP posts:

Mrsjayy · 22/12/2022 09:31

Dh took 2 weeks off just because he had them to take. We went recently for a week and he was still feeling it 3 /4 days after we came back.

Mrsjayy · 22/12/2022 09:32

I mean you can still function just everything feels a bit fuzzy and weird,

arethereanyleftatall · 22/12/2022 09:33

It's up to you. I Would push through on the Monday because I wouldn't want to waste any precious annual leave not on holiday.

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 22/12/2022 09:35

No time at all... I'd rather spend the time on holiday. So I have returned one day and gone to work the next. In my experience it passes more quickly if you return to 'normal' time ASAP and keen busy.

But I guess if I was a surgeon or something I might think differently

guildingthelily · 22/12/2022 09:36

I'd say you will just about survive. Although if you can have the luxury of having the Monday off why not. Forcing yourself back to work does help reset your body clock. Although it can take 2 weeks to feel fully human again. I day this from experience of flying to and from south East Asia. There were days when I was awake from 3am but just had to plough on through really. Good luck!

UCUNoMore · 22/12/2022 09:39

i went to the US earlier this month, arrived back early Monday morning - went to bed for a couple of hours but worked from home in the afternoon and then just back to work as normal on Tuesday.

back on Sat, I’d imagine you’ll be fine for work on the Monday.

Aposterhasnoname · 22/12/2022 09:39

I’ve been known to go straight from the airport and push through. I find I recover quicker that way. But yeah. As someone said, if I was a surgeon or operating dangerous machinery I might do things differently

Mushroo · 22/12/2022 09:39

If you can spare the holiday take the Monday off (which I like to do after any holiday anyway to ease back in).

But unless your a surgeon or truck driver you’ll be able to power through.

I did 2 weeks in America and when I came back just had a nap after work for the first few days.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 22/12/2022 09:39

Coming back from Australia a day, because my body clock is completely out (in bed at 6pm, wide awake at 3am). America, would depend on where and if I was able to sleep on the flight.

Anapana · 22/12/2022 09:40

I worried about this as I was recently going to and from Australia but was absolutely fine both ways and back at work the next day. I tried to go to bed the normal time for the country I was in and took melatonin and was pleasantly surprised!

Wincher · 22/12/2022 09:42

we went to the US this summer, landed home on the morning of the bank holiday Monday. Had a bit of a nap in the afternoon but tried to push through, went to bed at 8pm or so and woke at 7am the next day totally fine. I was working from home and managed to get about three hours work done before the kids woke at 11!

elsa758 · 22/12/2022 09:42

In my younger days, I used to land at Heathrow at 6am in the morning and be at work the same day. I tried to arrive on a Wednesday though so it means only doing 3 days (when jet lag is worst) then can rest on the weekend.

Jet lag hits me worse now that I have two toddlers but for me it's not something that cups of coffee can't fix.

DipmeinChoc · 22/12/2022 09:42

Push through. I've landed back on a Mon morning and gone to work that day.

booklovingmum · 22/12/2022 09:45

I once went back to work the day after returning from Australia (I'd landed at 7pm Sunday).

I've been to Australia quite a few times and I honestly found it really helpful to just get straight back into routine. I'd give yourself a day if you can though.

MelchiorsMistress · 22/12/2022 09:46

You won’t automatically get proper jet lag just coming back from America, you’ll likely just be a bit tired from the travelling. Coming back on a Saturday morning and no need to go back to work until the Monday morning wouldn’t be a problem at all. If you can sleep on the flight you will be absolutely fine.

MagpiePi · 22/12/2022 09:47

I went to Australia for a month and didn’t suffer particularly either way. It helps if you set your watch to the destination country while you are travelling and try and behave accordingly.
So coming back from America, you should try and sleep on the plane as it is UK night time and then stay awake on Saturday.

Fuuuuuckit · 22/12/2022 09:49

Sat am to Monday should be fine, especially if you can sleep on the plane.

Last year I came back twice on Sunday morning (can't sleep on planes), working at 8am Monday customer-facing which was tough but do-able.

Soproudoflionesses · 22/12/2022 09:49

Depends if you are going to the east or west coast

KentishMama · 22/12/2022 09:50

I do this quite often, maybe once every three months or so. I wouldn't usually take time off, disrupting my routine tends to make jetlag worse rather than better. Powering through is the way to go if at all possible.

WonderingWanda · 22/12/2022 10:10

I would recommend fighting your way through the Saturday, stay awake and go to bed early that evening. Then again on Sunday. Make sure you get out in the daylight for a long spell both days and you should be fine, albeit a bit tired on the Monday.

SnowAndFrostOutside · 22/12/2022 10:12

None, because I don't have enough annual leave to cover for post holiday recovery. My parents are overseas with a 12 hour flight and 8 hour time difference. I do this often.

LlynTegid · 22/12/2022 10:17

Last time came back arriving early Sunday morning and began work on Tuesday. Was in the days when you went to an office.

Dreamstate · 22/12/2022 10:23

I always just push through and keep my routine as normal as possible. However when I've done LA, I've always booked an overnight flight which lands during the morning as its +1 day due to timezones so evidently have to take a day off if I land back on a Monday so I have the rest of the afternoon and evening to adjust.

I find London to New York no need to bother to take a day off.

Depends on where your flying from and flight times.

TheRookieMum · 22/12/2022 10:25

In a week, you won't have properly adjusted to whichever American timezone you're visiting so it shouldn't be too difficult overall. I'd say don't waste annual leave on recovering from jetlag unless your job involves driving dangerous machines or the likes where fatigue is more of a problem than a desk job.

Monday you will probably feel like a zombie, but as PPs have said, it helps to recover if you push yourself back into your usual routine & home timezone. I reckon you'll only need a couple days to get back to it, though it is easier when you're younger!

I've been over there a fair few times and usually aim to fly back to arrive on the Saturday or Sunday morning, whichever flight is cheaper.

luckylavender · 22/12/2022 10:26

I wouldn't unless I had spare holiday. You have to get on with it. Getting into the time zone of wherever you are is the trick. So no thinking, it's really 3am now in the U K when it's midday wherever you are or vice versa.

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