Rick Steves' Must-Follow Jet Lag Rule For Your First Day In Europe

If there's anything that can absolutely wreck a solidly planned vacation, it's that pesky, unavoidable jet lag. Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder that affects travelers who pass through or into different time zones. Our bodies have internal clocks that allow us to know when it's time to wake up and when to go to sleep. Jet lag occurs because your body's internal clock is synced up to your original time zone, not the new time zone you're currently in. 

Once you cross a few time zones, naturally your body will feel out of sorts, and your sleep schedule will be affected — especially if you're traveling to Europe from the U.S., which can be a six- to nine-hour time difference. That's a significant amount! Although unavoidable, there are a few tricks you can use to make jet lag less bothersome — and who better to look to for top-tier travel tips than everyone's favorite travel expert, Rick Steves? 

It's safe to say that Steves knows what he's talking about, and he offers a few genius tips on how to combat jet lag. One of Steves' top rules to avoid feeling sluggish is something you should do (or not do) as soon as you arrive at your destination, on your first day in Europe. "Too many people assume their first day will be made worthless by jet lag," Steves writes on his website, but it doesn't have to be — especially if you heed this must-follow rule. 

If you want to beat jet lag, Rick Steves recommends that upon arriving at your destination, stay awake until the local bedtime — as hard as it may be. This doesn't mean you have to clothespin your eyeballs open until 11 p.m. local time, but try your best to go to sleep at a reasonable bedtime hour. Resist the temptation to take a nap! "If you doze off at 4 p.m. and wake up at midnight, you've accomplished nothing," Steves says. While beauty sleep is not nothing, staying up can help defeat that pesky jet lag. Aside from guzzling cups of coffee, Steves suggests going out for a walk and staying away from any pillows until early evening. "Jet lag hates fresh air, daylight, and exercise," he says, so even if you feel like a slug, fight the feeling and force your body to transition to local time. 

The worst part about jet lag for those who are not morning people is that you will now most likely become one — at least on your second day. Steves says that trying to sleep later than your internal alarm clock is most likely useless, so it's best to just get up and enjoy the morning like a local. Go grab a pastry, walk to the local market, and enjoy the city as it starts to awaken, especially since, as Steves jokes, "this may be the only sunrise you'll see in Europe."