Time zones, a common struggle for many, can be somewhat of a hindrance when it comes to building businesses across borders or working while traveling the world. Regardless of where you are in the world, time zones can be a challenge for even the most seasoned of travelers.
Whether you need to fly into Bali to host a meeting or arrange your schedule to take a late-night call to meet a new client’s working hours, time zones can force your brain to work overtime and push you to the brink of burnout when not approached correctly.
When you add elements such as jet lag, disrupted sleep, and overstimulation, it’s easy to see why even the smallest of tasks can become insurmountable when traversing the world and facing timezone challenges.
So how do you stay sharp when your body clock is still half the world away?
Understanding Time Zone Burnout
Our brains are finely tuned to a circadian rhythm. This is the 24-hour sleep cycle that regulates sleep hormone release and so much more. When you move or work abroad, this rhythm can be disrupted, leading to what we call ‘time zone burnout’. This can impact your mood, cognitive abilities, memory, and other bodily functions you need to get through the day. Overcoming disruptions of your circadian rhythm can take days or weeks, which is not what you want when you need to bring your A-game.
Resetting Your Cognitive Clock
But how can you reset your internal clock and get yourself back on track? There are many tips and tricks for overcoming jet lag online, and the following will be massively beneficial wherever you are in the world. Rest assured, there are effective strategies to overcome time zone challenges.
- Natural light can be the most effective way to reset your internal clock. So, get natural light or early morning sunlight as soon as possible to help your body acclimatise faster.
- Get rid of the screens at bedtime- we all know the dangers of blue light and its impact on sleep. Blue light, emitted by electronic devices, can disrupt your body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, making it harder to fall asleep.
- Eat at local times to help your body associate the time with your regular habits. When we say ‘local times’, we mean the typical meal times of the region you’re in. Don’t eat at your usual time at home; eat meals at local times so your body and your brain adjust faster to the new time zone.
Using Supplements for Brain Fog
Many people utilise supplements to increase cognitive performance and banish brain fog. While some supplements can have many benefits, it’s important to remember that not all can deliver the right benefits. Moving down this path can be a slippery slope if you become reliant on supplements to get through exhaustion or improvements from brain fog.
Magnesium can help promote sleep and reduce stress, L-theanine can boost alertness, especially when paired with coffee, for the focus boost you need without the crash from drinking coffee alone. Omega-2 fatty acids can support brain health and reduce inflammation.
Understanding the risks and benefits of adding supplements to your lifestyle is important to help you combat tiredness and work well across time zones. Some substances that enhance cognitive performance, such as aniracetam memory booster, are synthetic compounds sold for research purposes but can have side effects when used incorrectly and damage your health. This makes exploring supplements for combating jetlag or brain fog tricky, reiterating the need to do your research to understand what you’re buying and taking from only reputable providers.