Hello,

All new posts are on our new website Gentle Living (www.gentlelivingonline.com). Gentle Living is an online magazine about living a gentle but powerful life. From self-help, to animal welfare, to travel, to home decor, to ethical beauty & fashion, to an advice column, it’s all gentle; not weak, just gentle. Being gentle is sometimes the most powerful thing you can do for yourself and the world around you.

Please visit that website going forward. This website will be taken down soon.

Many thanks!

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This is an unusual post. Little (personal) and big (biz) updates for you today!

First, my husband and I just celebrated our 3 year anniversary. I planned our dinner reservations after hearing insanely rave reviews about a high end vegan Japanese restaurant in NYC called Kajitsu. We had a little mess up with the reservations and had to wait almost an hour (my fault!). Despite the fact that I was STARVING, I convinced my hubby it’d be worth the wait.

I so wanted to love this place – fancy vegan Japanese, sounds perfect. You needed reservations 2 weeks in advance. The reviews were just amazing – even our non-vegan friends had raved about the food. It is crazy expensive, we absolutely could not afford it but we decided to throw credit-card-debt-caution to the wind and indulge. And so we ordered our 7 course meal (you only get 2 options, 5 or 7 courses). We salivated with anticipation as we whispered to each other – this place was quieter than my old law school library, whispering was a must.

Then the food came. Man, what can I say… We just did not get this place. The food was either so incredibly bland or completely covered in pickles. With each bite of a new course we sighed with disappointment. Ramen noodles in cold water, pickles upon pickles for a main meal, a soup and salad that tasted like something we could have made at home. We were sad campers as our wallets laughed at us.

I decided that the problem couldn’t be this 2 Michelin stars rated restaurant. It must just be us, we were simply not sophisticated enough for a meal of this caliber. There were fancy veggies I’ve never heard of – I’m sure they were flown in from somewhere special and I’m sure each dish was incredibly complicated to make. The fact that it’s vegan, people RAVE about it, the service was wonderful, and it’s clearly booked every night is amazing. It honestly must just be us…

So I went home and read more reviews online. It seems they change the menu every month so you should always check the reviews for that month. Perhaps we would have loved it in September… I spoke to a friend who had recommended it and we compared the dishes we received. Hearing what she ate made it pretty clear that we kinda got screwed. My friend was never served anything even remotely close to cold ramen noodles and a plate of pickles. Everything she ate sounded amazing. Sigh…

From now on when we’re treating ourselves to something high end we’ll have to stick with Pure Food & Wine, as I could eat that mouthwatering healthy raw food every night.

Despite our disappointment we laughed the whole night and glowed like we were falling in love for the first time. And my husband gave me Jason Mraz tickets so I can finally see my favorite artist perform live. And so, it was all sooo perfect…

We felt inspired to sneak in a little video of our dinner while our waitress was gone if you feel like checking it out – see the end of this post.

Now for much more serious stuff…

BIG BIZ UPDATE!

They say clarity comes through action, not thought. I can’t begin to tell you how true that is.

I can’t say much yet, as things are just beginning the transformation process, but some stuff is going to change with my business in unexpected ways that I’m super stoked about. The new website will be taking a twist I could never have anticipated if I hadn’t taken all the actions I have over the past year. Just the thought of it’s new format brings me peace and happiness and I can already feel it fitting like a glove.

I’ll still be booking travel of course and the focus will obviously still be animal welfare, but it will have some other stuff going on and a slightly different formula. I know that’s vague, I’m still working through it all, but if you’ve been with me for awhile I have a feeling you’ll say, ‘ahhh that makes sense Liz…’ I hope so anyway!

So please excuse me if I don’t blog for awhile. I’m going into a creative bubble to get this done as efficiently as possible. I’m still booking trips, I just may not blog much until the new website is a bit further along.

I just want you to know how much I appreciate you and all the support you’ve shown me since I launched this business. The new stuff I’m concocting will ultimately serve you better and that’s what’s most important. Thanks so much for being here with me.

Enjoy the transition from summer to fall, my absolute favorite time of year, and I’ll be in touch soon

xoxo,

Liz

P.S. Here’s our silly video as mentioned above (solely for your entertainment!)

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“Your horse is a mirror to your soul, and sometimes you may not like what you see. Sometimes, you will.” Buck Brannaman

My dad recently took me to see an amazing documentary called Buck, the story about the real “horse whisperer”, Buck Brannaman.

If you love horses or animals in general, you will be as moved by this documentary as I was. Buck is a true cowboy with a gentle soul but a tragic past. His father used to beat him and his brother mercilessly when they were young boys. He suffered this abuse continuously until his football coach saw his young beat up body in the locker room one day after practice. With one look at the bruises that covered Buck’s entire body he promised him that he would never be hit by his father again.

Photo courtesy of Diane C. Nicholson of Twin Heart Photo Productions

At a young age Buck learned what it’s like to constantly fear for your life. He grew up around horses so that fear and sensitivity fostered an emotional connection to and understanding of these animals that most people never experience so deeply; it seems as if he can literally see into their souls.

Horses are large strong animals but if you’ve ever spent time around them you know just how easily spooked and sensitive they are. And as you probably know, to train a horse people traditionally would “break their spirit” by using extreme force until the horse learned to submit to commands out of fear.

The practice of “breaking” an animal is barbaric and cruel and does not demonstrate how advanced man is, but instead shows how shallow, impatient, uneducated, abusive and oppressive we can be. Watch Buck Brannaman with his horses for 2 minutes and you’ll see there’s a better way. Buck now travels the country all year to teach horse owners how to properly train and treat their animals. The result is better behaved more trustworthy and gentle animals who love, trust and draw strength from their human companions.

Buck’s story is one of the many examples of someone using something bad in their life and turning into their strength. He uses his past not to change horses but to change humans, to show them a more compassionate, well-thought out approach to raising any animal. His tortured past showed him that abuse is never the answer. There is always a better way. A “bad” animal is often merely a reflection of it’s guardian. It’s up to us to work on ourselves so that we can be the best we can be for the people and animals in our lives.

This movie touched my soul and I’m sure it will touch yours.

We should all walk through life with the grace, gentleness, compassion and awareness of Buck Brannaman.

Here’s the trailer. If you see it I’d love to hear what you thought.

Photo of Buck Brannaman courtesy of http://brannaman.com. Andalusian stallion photo courtesy of Diane C. Nicholson of Twin Heart Photo Productions.

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Gorillas are the largest of the primate species. They are highly intelligent gentle creatures who live rich emotional lives, feeling things deeply. They play, laugh, grieve, and develop strong family bonds. They think about the past and the future, remembering things for years. They smile, chuckle, and purr. They care for their young with great affection and patience. They make and use tools. They have at least 25 distinct vocalizations. They live in groups and even develop their own varying group cultures. Some researches believe they even develop spiritual or religious feelings. Other than two chimpanzee species, they are the closest living relatives to humans, sharing 95 – 99% of our DNA. Needless to say, they are magnificent creatures.

Tragically, like so many species, gorillas are endangered due to human activities - intense poaching for the bushmeat trade, trophy poaching, and habitat destruction. Man is a 500 pound gorilla’s only predator.

However there are areas where the gorilla’s land is protected and you can see these magnificent animals in their natural habitats. The two best places to see gorillas are the mountains of Uganda and Rwanda where you can go on gorilla tracking safaris. Mountain gorillas are the most endangered of all apes, with only about 700 individuals remaining.

Gorilla trekking is highly regulated for both the protection of humans and gorillas. Only 8 people may visit a gorilla family group on any given day and can only stay for a maximum of one hour (less if the gorillas get nervous). This is to minimize behavioral differences and exposure of the gorillas to human-borne diseases (if you are sick with a cold or flu, you may not participate).

Gorillas are gentle creatures (despite how Hollywood portrays them) who eat a vegetarian diet. They will likely absorb you and your movements with interest as you’re absorbing them. While you’re there you never know what you’ll witness: gorillas feeding, playing, interacting, moving through the forest, etc. The range of emotions you’ll feel seeing these animals in the wild is a life changing experience.

In Rwanda, gorilla tracking takes place in Parc des Volcans, Rwanda’s acclaimed national park. You’ll hike up one of the six Virunga Volcanoes, passing through bamboo forests and rainforests, in search of gorilla family groups. You can also visit the grave of famed primatologist Dian Fossey, who dedicated her life to the conservation and protection of these animals.

From Rwanda you drive to Uganda, a birdwatcher’s paradise, where you’ll have another opportunity to go gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park, seeing gorillas in a completely different environment. You’ll be able amazed at how differently these gorillas are from the ones you saw in Rwanda. You’ll also see a variety of other primate species such as the back-and-white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, baboon, etc. Bwindi National Park is home to almost half of the world’s population of mountain gorillas and is the only place on earth where gorillas and chimpanzees live in the same habitat.

During your safari you’ll not only have the opportunity to track different gorilla family groups but you’ll also learn about the cultural heritage of each country. When you’re not trekking for gorillas, you’ll visit national museums, participate in cultural activities, interact with locals, and explore each country’s mountainous terrain, enchanting swamplands, lakes and national parks. You’ll observe countless other animals found in each country, including elephants, lions, buffalo, and hundreds of bird species. If you’re lucky you may even spot a mysterious tree climbing lion while in Uganda. All the while you’ll be staying in beautiful lodges amidst natural surroundings.

We don’t live in a perfect world. Endangered animals are hunted and their land is destroyed unnecessarily. Without tourism, the habitats of wild animals succumb to the needs of impoverished communities. In many cases, tourism is the only thing protecting these animals in a sustainable way.

How you spend your tourist dollars is important. Show the countries you visit that you care about the well-being of the animals that inhabit each country. Use your tourist dollars to see animals in the wild, never in captivity. In doing so you help protect the land the animals live in and provide jobs to the local people so there is less need and less opportunity for poaching and land destruction. You also end up having a once in a lifetime experience.

Tourism has already contributed greatly to saving the gorillas, but the future of these magnificent animals remains uncertain.

If you like this post please ”Like” it and share it with your friends and family. Also leave me a comment letting me know what you think of gorilla tracking safaris and our role in protecting these amazing animals.

If you’re not on my newsletter list, please sign up here and you’ll receive 3 free guides and stay up to date on all of the unique animal-friendly adventures you can go on.

Contact me at info@yourtimetravels.com if you’re interested in going on a gorilla tracking safari.

Photos courtesy of hjallig, dbking, nailbender, and belgianchocolate.

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I had my very first travel exhibit this past weekend at the Humane Society of the United States Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) conference in Washington DC. I did a little video documentary of my weekend below.

One of my earliest blogs was of my experience attending TAFA last year. I was months away from launching my business and just beginning to enter the animal welfare world, leaving my law firm life further and further behind.

I remember dreaming of one day having my own table at a conference like this. That dream used to feel so distant…

It’s funny, as you fulfill your dreams bit by bit, you replace them with new and bigger ones…

Happy dreaming.

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I don’t know about you, but the idea of boarding a cruise full of casinos with thousands of passengers on a ship so big you hardly know you’re on water, doesn’t fully appeal to me. I’m sure it would be a great time but I prefer things a little less commercialized, a little more authentic, and if you’ve been reading this blog, you know it’s gotta be immersed in nature and wildlife.

If you’re here you’re probably a bit like me in these respects so I wanted to let you know about the amazing expedition opportunities offered by Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic.

Lindblad was founded in 1979 by a man named Sven-Olof Linblad, whose father, Lars-Eric Linblad, has been nicknamed as the father of eco-tourism.  In 2004, Linblad formed a strategic partnership with National Geographic to offer responsible travel expeditions to exotic destinations in North America, Central and South America, the Antarctic and Arctic regions, Europe and Egypt.

Lindblad is defined by a passion for providing educational and adventurous expeditions that foster a deep appreciation for some of the most exquisite natural wonders of the world.

These expeditions are not typical cruises. They are for people interested in wildlife, marine life, conservation, photography, history, culture, and/or navigation and who want to venture off the beaten path without sacrificing comfort. They are for people who don’t want to go to zoos to see exotic animals but who want to observe them in their natural habitats.

These trips are about discovery, exploring fascinating and often inaccessible regions, traveling in harmony with the environment, and learning from renowned experts who know each destination intimately.

Here are some differences between big commercial cruise lines and wildlife expeditions like these:

1. Size Matters. A “small” ship in the typical cruising world holds 500 passangers and larger cruises are like floating cities with over 3,000 passengers (you’ll barely know you’re on a cruise). Lindblad’s ships are small – 42 to 148 guests, offering you easier access to off-the-beaten path places and a more intimate experience.

2. Getting Off the Tourist Path. Unlike typical cruises, on an Lindblad expedition, off-the-beaten-path shore excursions are the main event (and are included in the price). You won’t just hop from one popular crowded tourist spot to another. You’ll have intimate, authentic adventures, such as taking a Nile voyage accompanied by a leading Egyptologist or having afternoon tea with a farming family in Scotland’s Orkney Islands.

Instead of passively appreciating a destination, with expedition travel you are an active participant.

3. Values. Lindblad understands the importance of maintaining natural resources and learning the cultural backgrounds of indigenous people. These values are often lost on big cruise ships. To ensure the integrity of areas visited, Lindblad invests substantial resources (personnel and finances) to support a wide array of conservation projects worldwide. Additionally, the food they provide on board is made with fresh, local and sustainable products from each region.

Linblad knows that travelers will experience a greater appreciation of and care for environments they have intimately explored.

4. Education. Instead of a cruise director making random announcements in multiple languages over a loud speaker, on these expeditions there is a naturalist, scientist, historian or other specialist for every 10 – 15 passengers. Their knowledge and personal experiences, as well as state of the art technology, will bring the places you’ll see to life. Small expedition ships, Zodiacs, sea kayaks, bow cameras, remotely operated underwater vehicles, underwater cameras, hydrophones, and video-microscopes facilitate intimate connections with your surroundings in previously uncharted ways. There are even experts trained specifically to provide enriching and engaging activities for your children if you are traveling as a family (there are no age limits).

The knowledgeable staff on board all share a passion for exploration, adventure travel, conservation, and scientific discovery.

5. Like-Minded Travelers. If you’re still reading this, you probably dig this kind of travel. On these expeditions, you’ll be traveling with small groups of like-minded travelers, so you’ll be with your people!

Instead of being lost in a sea of thousands of strangers, you’ll be having in-depth experiences and conversations with people who share your values.

6. Scheduling. Unlike a typical cruise with a very strict schedule, expeditions cruises are flexible and will adjust to capture special experiences, like spending extra time watching a family of whales or dolphins that happened to swim by.

7. Adventure (& Leisure). You won’t find a casino or a Broadway show on these cruises and tours but adventure and thrill-seeking are core components of all Linblad Expeditions. There are countless adventure activities from hiking to kayaking to jumping into a Zodiac (a 10 to 12 person motorized landing craft) to see something the boat can’t get to (like a polar bear!). That being said, there is also ample time for leisure including relaxing in the lounges, indulging in spa treatments, or exercising in fitness centers. The atmosphere on board is laid-back and relaxed, travelers are encouraged to enjoy the casual and comfortable pace of life at sea.

So if cruise casinos aren’t your thing and you’d rather watch playful sea lion pups on the beaches of the Galapagos or the inquisitive white-faced capuchin monkeys playing in the trees of Costa Rica, or cruise to Alaska to see glacial ice thundering into the sea, or watch dolphins chatter as they playfully swim alongside your Zodiac, or even island hop through Greece as you learn about Greek gods and mythology, Lindblad Expeditions likely has something for you.

Anyone can go on a vacation, but not many choose to go on a life changing experience.

I’ll give you more information on individual expeditions in the future, this is just a general overview to introduce you to this style of traveling. Hope you enjoyed it!

If you’re interested in booking an expedition cruise, contact me at info@yourtimetravels.com. I’d love to work as your agent to find the perfect expedition for you!

If you like this blog post please “Like” it at the top and share it with your friends and family!

Here are some pics from various expeditions…

Lindblad is a leader in environmentally responsible travel and has received countless awards including Travel & Leisure’s 2009 “World’s Best” and “World’s Best for Families” awards for small ship cruise lines and ForbesTravel.com’s 2009 “Best Adventure Cruise” award.

All photos are courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions. Copyrights held by: Stewart Cohen, Stefan Lundgren, Ralph Lee Hopkins, Sven-Olof Lindblad, David Vargas, Michael S. Nolan and Cindy Manning.

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So my dog used to bite… EVERYONE. He bit friends, family members, neighbors, and passersby who dared to share the sidewalk with him. He’s a handsome fella so people would run up to pet him and things would usually happen in slow motion… his mouth would open, teeth would bare, a quick snap… I try to forget the rest.

He never did serious harm, but he did break skin. The worst offense, he bit my neighbor in the stomach, ripping his tee-shirt and drawing blood. I could tell you how my neighbor asked for it by swearing he could reform my dog with his savvy (cocky) know-how and Cesear Milan pack leader presence (despite me pleading that he was making my dog (and me) extremely uncomfortable as he tried to take the leash from me), but alas, I won’t place the blame on him, my dog should not have been biting anyone…

Mind you, my dog is the sweetest angel you’ll ever meet. It wasn’t that he wanted people to die, he was fear biting. It was a reflex. He was scared of strangers. People in his “inner circle” could do whatever they wanted to him, pick him up, tickle him, roughhouse, anything. If you weren’t in the inner circle and you approaced the wrong way? Blood.

I can’t tell you how many people said things to me like “wow, I can’t believe you haven’t taken him back to a shelter”. Those comments made me angry, my dog was an ANGEL. His intentions weren’t bad, they were based on fear. Do you stick your children in a shelter when they don’t behave? No, you find a darn solution (or at least try to).

I learned a ton about his breed during this time (Note: In NO way do I think a breed determines everything and the fact that my dog no longer bites goes to prove that). But he is part Chow Chow and has a full Chow personality - insanely loyal to his guardians (I swear this loyalty goes beyond most dogs but perhaps I’m biased…) and very cautious of strangers. No matter what his breed, it was our fault that he was biting and it was up to us to fix it.

How to Fix a Biting Dog… Love, Determination, PATIENCE, and Taking Some Risks

1. Hire a Trainer. Fire a Trainer. So we found a local trainer and began a few sessions with her. She handed us a pamphlet on why Cesar Millan is the devil and came with a million cookies. For the life me I don’t understand Cesar haters, the man can reform extremely dangerous dogs using exercise, appropriate levels of discipline, and love. I’ve watched his show a thousand times and I’ve never been offended by his methods. After a few sessions of her feeding my dog endless cookies for doing nothing and there being zero improvement in his behavior, she told us that he will always be this way and we can never have him around people. I fired her dumb ass.

2. Hire a Good Trainer. Recognize that It’s YOU Who Needs to be Trained. I found a Cesear Milan equivalent and he gave me, my husband, and our dog the butt whipping we needed (without there being any actually whipping of course). He did not give up on us or our baby. He told us from the start that our dog may never be the dopey slap happy retriever that goes jumping into every strangers lap, but we can teach him to simply duck his head away when he doesn’t want to be pet. And so using both positive enforcement and negative enforcement that’s exactly what we did.

3. Positive Enforcement. The usual, ENDLESS praise and treats when he lets someone pet him without digging his teeth into them. We had brave friends come over for these lessons. We put their hands in ski gloves and wrapped their arms in endless layers of clothes to protect their body parts (although they were still scared outta their wits). And then we had them walk over and try to pet him. When he didn’t bite, we acted like he won the Noble Peace Prize.

4. Negative Enforcement. Negative enforcement is not always necessary and while it may be negative it must NEVER be abusive. Our situation was severe, he was biting everyone. Our negative enforcement began in the form of loudly shaking a water bottle with coins in it when he acted aggressively. Later, after many more bite attempts, we had to get a remote controlled citronella collar. Our trainer trained him to recognize that he’ll get sprayed with citronella immediately after we make the collar beep. In total, he was maybe sprayed 8 times. After that, as soon as he heard the beep he stopped in his tracks and we never had to spray him again. The beep was his discipline.

5. Take Smart Calculated Risks. Socialize Your Anti-Social Pup. I knew my dog was pure of heart. I knew he meant nothing bad, he was just scared. So instead of keeping him from people, I brought him EVERYWHERE. I was determined to socialize the bejesus out of him. And so I did. It was scary but I had methods. I knew exactly how he liked to be pet, so I’d take him all over Brooklyn (where I used to live) popping in and out of boutique clothing stores who all had dog cookies waiting (even though my dog usually won’t take cookies from strangers…). The ladies working there would come over to pet him and I’d tell them exactly how to do it and then smoother him with praise. I called those our “shopping” days, even though I never bought anything. We took him to every dog run, off leash park, friend’s house, and outdoor restaurant we could find. There was no way I was keeping him away from people, instead we drowned him in them! Best decision we ever made.

6. Most Important – EXERCISE!!!! You may think I’m crazy for risking the untorn skin of so many strangers with tip #5 above, but here’s the key to that tip: before I’d embark on these little journeys, I’d run him. 45 minutes to 1 hour jogs. An exercised dog is a happy, well behaved, too filled with endorphins to bite dog. No exercise = Cujo. Exercise = Angel.

I can now proudly say that my dog no longer bites, EVER. After months of implementing these tactics something clicked and he just stopped biting. He now loves EVERYONE and the gentle soul he always was fully shines through. And like our good trainer promised, when someone comes along that he doesn’t want petting him, he ducks his head down and to the side like the snake dance move from the 80′s. I’m a proud mama for sure.

If you have a dog with behavior problems, just remember… where there’s a will there’s always a way. There’s no such thing as a bad dog.

Now how about some family photos where Cujo is the main subject?!

This is Knish a/k/a Nishy a/k/a Cujo

My brother

My Dad

My hubby

Big baby...

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I haven’t been totally open with you all. There are challenges I face as a new online business owner that totally overwhelm me sometimes. The root of those challenges are… me. I am, at my core, a shy introvert. I’ve mentioned this briefly in previous posts, but even then I was afraid to totally let you know how fundamentally this affects me.

Awhile back I wrote a guest blog for the beloved Crazy Sexy Life called Shy Girl’s Manifesto. When I wrote for Crazy Sexy Life once before, I happily shared it with you all. But with this post, revealing the depth to which my shyness has penetrated my life, I was too shy to share it with you, despite its positive message. Ironic I know considering the immense readership of Crazy Sexy Life. But still, the people reading it weren’t my readers, they weren’t you. The thought of sharing it with you made me feel too vulnerable, like you might see my weaknesses and realize how fragile I really am.

I’m writing this to you today because the introvert in me has really been taking over. As much as I enjoyed throwing that big contest for you in April, it was a whole lotta putting myself out there all over the place online. Adrenaline got me through it, but when it finally ended, the inner introvert in me was not a happy camper and wanted revenge. At the very least, it wanted me to go deep into hiding to recover. If it was up to my inner introvert, it would be months before I came out!

I’m not writing this post to give you any tips or to tell you all the benefits or downfalls that come with being a shy girl. You can read Shy Girl’s Manifesto for that if you’re interested; in it I discuss the beauty I’ve found in being shy and how I no longer view it as a weakness, it’s merely a character trait that comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses, like everything else. I’m simply sharing this with you for the sake of sharing. As far as I’ve come with my shyness since I was a young girl, it will always be my spiritual core. It is the foundation upon which I’ve been built. Being an introverted lawyer was one thing, I was holed up in my office all the time, it was quite comfortable for me. Being an introverted online business owner is a whole different animal. If I didn’t have an immense passion for my business and for animal welfare, you’d likely never see me blogging online. Before starting this company I wouldn’t even use facebook. But my passion is bigger than me and I’m grateful for that; it forces me to extend and challenge myself in ways I never would have otherwise, ways that I find very fulfilling, like writing for you.

So there you have it, you know a bit more about me than maybe you needed to, although I’ve really only scratched the surface. I’m fundamentally shy and with that comes a whole lot of sensitivity and fragility but it also comes with compassion and strength. It’s a part of me I’ve learned to love, respect and nourish in the unique ways it requires of me. So excuse me if I crawl into an introverted cave of bliss at times, it’s just me recharging my spiritual batteries.

One more thing, I wrote a blog last week with tips on how to get over jet lag the healthy way. I was in the midst of my shy-bernation so I didn’t feel like sharing it with you. Sorry about that, hope it’s helpful to you the next time you travel!

So I guess my question for you would be, does shyness play any role in your life? Hope I’m not alone…

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Traveling definitely has it’s downsides… the lost bags, the dreaded middle seat, the jet lag… Jet lag can ruin a short vacation if you’re not careful making you groggy, irritable, sleepy, and generally not the ball of sunshine I’m sure you normally are! It definitely wipes me out. You may not be able to control all of the problems you encounter during your journey but what if you could beat jet lag? Here are some tips to minimize that sleepy, fuzzy, hungover-like feeling so you can start enjoying your trip sooner!

Tip #1  - Hydrate!

Flying greatly dehydrates you.  The average indoor humidity level is usually about 45% but inside a plane cabin it’s 15%. The low humidity along with increased breathing due to high altitudes sucks any moisture right out of the air. You’re left with a very dry environment and an increased possibility of dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration include lightheadedness, nausea, muscles cramps and sleepiness. These side effects combined with a thrown-off internal clock can make for a rough trip. In flight alcohol drinking heightens these symptoms so save your cocktails for after you land. Eight ounces of water for every hour you’re in the air is recommended. Also avoid all sugary beverages, and sugar in general, which will just spike your blood sugar level causing you to feel even groggier later.

Tip #2 – Don’t hibernate.

Your body responds to natural sunlight.  The more time you spend outside basking in the sun the easier it will be for you to adjust to the new time zone.  Also make sure to eat all meals at the local time starting immediately upon arrival. Set your watch when you’re on the plane to the local time as well. The faster you trick your mind and body to adjust, the happier you’ll be.

Tip #3 – Stay awake once you arrive in your destination.

One of the best ways to trump jet lag is to just stay awake. Sometimes that’s easier said than done so make sure you have interesting ways to stay productive once you arrive at your destination. Avoid strenuous activities but explore the local village, visit a museum, or take a walk on the beach to keep your mind engaged and your body moving. Try not to go to bed until it’s really the local bedtime. Avoid naps if possible as they’re terribly difficult to wake up from and will further interfere with your body adjusting to your new time zone.

Tip #4 – Reduce caffeine.

You’ll be tempted to turn to caffeine to get you through your sluggish moments. While caffeine may provide you with a jolt of stimulation, it will make it harder for you to sleep deeply when it’s really time for bed. You’ll need quality sleep to fight the jet lag so don’t let caffeine get the best of you. Caffeine also dehydrates your body which will only add to your jet lag woes. You should keep caffeine to a minimum during the days leading up to and during your trip.

Tip #5 – Don’t take sleeping pills.

Reaching for sleeping pills to help with jet lag may cause more trouble than they’re worth.  If you aren’t already taking sleeping pills, do not turn to them for the first time during a flight as you don’t know how your body will react. Even if you are accustom to taking them, they still may not be your best bet. After waking up from a pill induced sleep you often feel very groggy which is not the right way to kick off a trip in a different time zone. If you’re worried about not being able to sleep on your flight, bring something to use as a pillow, an eye-mask, and ear plugs. If you follow the other tips in this article, you should be sleeping soundly in your destination country in no time.

Tip #6 – All Natural Jet Lag Remedies

No-Jet-Lag: No-Jet-Lag is a homeopathic remedy (vegan and not tested on animals) that has been known to be very helpful in preventing jet lag. It’s even used by major athletes to help them perform at their optimum physical levels upon arrival to their destinations. It has no reported side effects due to it’s low doses of these all natural ingredients: Leopard’s Bane, Daisy, Wild Chamomile, Ipecac and Clubmoss. It’s recommended that you chew one tablet each time your plane takes off and each time it lands, even if you are not disembarking, to counter the effects of pressure changes. Also take one every two hours while flying to counter the effects of long flights. It is best taken separately from meals. To find stores that carry this product or to order online, click here.

Melatonin: Melatonin is a common jet lag cure but it should only be used in very small doses (0.5 mg) and for a very short amount of time (just 2 or 3 nights). Melatonin is a chemical produced by your brain at night to make you sleepy. Your brain’s production of melatonin gets thrown out of wack when you travel. Taking sparing doses before bedtime after you arrive at your destination can help your body adjust. If you take larger doses or take it for an extended period of time you may suffer from side effects such as vivid dreams and nightmares. Melatonin can be found at most health stores.

Tip #7 – Going ninja on jet lag…

The final tip, for the hard core traveling pros, is to start combating jet lag several days before you leave for your trip by slowly adjusting your sleeping and eating times to match the schedule of your destination country. This may not be feasible due to your work or family schedule but if you can do it, even just to a minor extent, it will give your body’s internal clock a kickstart.

Beating jet lag is not easy but you can do it!  By following the above tips, you’ll be energized and ready to start exploring your new locale in no time. Happy traveling!

Note: As you know, I’m no doctor! But I am a lawyer, so here’s my little disclaimer: Always consult a physician before taking any medication!

Contributor: Gina Guariglia-Kelly 

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