Jet lag

Jet lag happens when we travel very quickly, like on an airplane, and move to a different time zone. Time zones are like big imaginary lines on the Earth that represent different times of day in different places.

So, let's say we fly from New York, USA to London, England. New York is five hours behind London on the clock. This means that when we arrive in London, it might be 7:00 PM there, but our bodies might feel like it's only 2:00 PM because that's what time it would be in New York.

Our bodies have a natural clock called a circadian rhythm that helps us feel awake during the daytime and sleepy at night. But when we travel to a different time zone, our bodies can get confused because they're used to a different schedule. This is what causes jet lag.

Jet lag can cause us to feel very tired, have trouble sleeping at night, and have trouble staying awake during the day. It might take a few days for our bodies to adjust to the new time zone and get back into a normal sleep schedule.

To help with jet lag, we can try to adjust our sleep schedule a few days before we travel. We can also try to get some sunlight during the day and avoid bright lights at night, which can help reset our circadian rhythm. Drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeine can also help us feel better.