Do you loathe jet lag? Do you struggle to get out of bed on winter mornings? Space In Your Case’s Helen was given the opportunity to review the Lumie Zest alarm clock, which claims to combat jet lag and help with the winter blues. Here’s what she thought.
A review of the Lumie Zest
Now that the kids are back at school, there is a definite tang of Autumn in the air, don’t you think? The air is colder, the light is lower, and there’s a niggly temptation to pop the heating on – just for an hour. I know what’s coming next: as winter progresses, I’m going to find it more and more difficult to jump out of bed with the alarm, and as the afternoons turn darker my motivation is going to fall into a hot chocolate and a travel magazine quicker than you can say winter sun.
But we have found the solution, and what’s more, it’s going to be great as a way to combat jet lag too.
The Lumie Zest to combat jet lag
The Lumie Zest is an alarm clock with a difference. I’ve been using it as my bedside clock for a few weeks, and I can honestly say it is a pleasure to wake up. Lumie have been designing bright lights to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) since 1991, and their Zest alarm clock uses the same principle to help you wake up naturally and gently; a gradual ‘sunrise’ signals to the body to stop producing the hormones that keep you asleep (melatonin) and start production of those that get you going (cortisol).
There are various settings, depending on your preference, with the option to skip the alarm and just use the light. Personally, I need the security of an alarm, but I have found myself waking up gradually with just the light setting. And as all parents know, being one step ahead of a toddler wake up call is always a good thing!
But how does the Lumie Zest combat jet lag? Well, if you’ve ever travelled long-haul, you’ll know how difficult it is to drag your body out of a deep sleep when it truly believes it’s the middle of the night. And just how sluggish you can feel when you do. Extra bright light is proven to improve mood and make you feel more awake, and the natural nudge to your melatonin levels will help your body get into the new time zone quicker, so you can get on with enjoying your holiday. It’s sturdy and portable too, so is easy to pack; I’ll be taking it to Jamaica so I’ll report back on how well it worked for me.
It’s even designed to be portable to your desk for use as a light therapy treatment, so I’m hoping those afternoon hot chocolates might be a less regular fixture this winter!
We have one Lumie Zest bright light alarm clock to give away. All you need to do is follow the options in the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Entry is open to UK residents only, excluding anyone professionally associated with Space In Your Case or the promoter.
2. One winner will win a Lumie Zest alarm clock worth £125. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and there is no cash alternative.
3. The prize draw starts at 12.01am GMT on Wednesday 9th September 2015 and closes at 11.59pm GMT on Tuesday 22nd September 2015.
4. Entry is free and must be made by commenting on this blog post answering: ‘What’s your top tip for avoiding jet-lag?’ Bonus entries can be obtained by tweeting about the giveaway, visiting Lumie Lights on Facebook, visiting Space In Your Case on Facebook, following Lumie Lights on Twitter, and following Space In Your Case on Twitter.
5. The name of the winners will be published on this website within 14 days of the giveaway closing.
6. The winners will be drawn at random using Rafflecopter and they must have commented on this blog post for their entry to count.
7. The winners will be notified by email. They willl have a week to respond, after which time a redraw will take place.
8. In the unlikely event that the prize becomes unavailable the Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value.
9. The Promoter’s decision on all matters is final and binding on all entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.
10. By taking part in this competition you agree to be bound by the competition terms and conditions.
11. The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant and / or winner at its discretion and without any notice in accordance with these terms and conditions.
12. The Promoter is: Lumie, 3 The Links, Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8UD.
Opt for overnight flights where possible.
I always change my watch and phone times to the local time as soon as I board the flight, this gives my body time to adjust. If I know I should be sleeping during the flight on the “new” time I stay up as late as possible the night before so that I can fall asleep easier on the plane (I don’t have children!!)
Little naps whenever possible.x
I try to book a flight that lands in the morning so as to have a strong coffee and keep going for the day to adjust to their time zone
Set your watch to the time at the place of arrival at the beginning of your journey
Snooze on the journey and switch to local time as soon as you arrive!
Don’t fly!
Sleep as much as possible before.
Have cat naps for a few days before a long haul flight.
overnight flights and always change your watch to local time
Drink lots of water on the flight and avoid alcohol
Lots of water and short naps
I uee Melatonin which helps o reset my body cock
Definitely to change the time on your watch to the time at your destination as soon as you board the plane. It won’t eliminate jet lag, but it certainly helps!
Don’t travel.
When you arrive stay awake until an early local bedtime
sleep on the plane xx
I struggle to sleep on planes, so opt for flights that land late afternoon. Time to unpack, dinner, exercise and then bed, ready to start fresh the next morning
I’ve never flown so I don’t have any tips sorry
I always try and book onto an overnight flight!
I try to take naps, but at a time that would be my usual time of sleep!
Don’t sleep too early when you arrive.
Take a nap when you can and drink plenty of water.
hydrate inside and out
hydrate inside and out
Cough/cold medicine with a sleeping aid to sleep through!
Have a small nap when you’re tired, but try to go to bed at normal time, it works for me when I do shift work
Stay active on arrival and try to stay awake as long as possible
Short and often little naps
do not fly
I drink plenty of water and sleep most of ever flight I go on.
Make sure you get a good snooze on the flight!
Snooze on the way, i`ve always done this and have never suffered jet lag. Not only that but im always raring to go upon landing #Makethemostofit.
Try and get night flights if possible so have a better chance of some sleep
drink plenty of aloe juice and water, staying hydrated makes you feel better, any little sleeps on the plane also helps
Drink plenty of water.
melatonin tablets help – can buy in drug stores in USA or on the internet
Take a good book and watch the in-flight entertainment♥
Give yourself time to adjust by sleeping when needed x
Lots and lots of water. Stay very well hydrated
Stay in bright places (natural sunlight, if possible), have a strong coffee, and take some melatonin when you finally go to bed!
don’t fly
I don’t know if this qualifies as a good tip, but I simply try my best to keep the same kind of routine .i.e. if you arrive in the morning, after having left at night, resist the urge to sleep/nap and stay up all day. I find the next day, I’m normal.
setting your watch for the right time,plenty of water and sleep on the flight
Don’t drink tea or coffee the day you fly and set your timepiece to the time at your arrival destination as soon as you board the airplane.
Only drink water and juices on the plane… everything else dehydrates you which makes you more tired!
set your watch to the time zone you are landing in as soon as you get on the plane
stick to real time in your new time zone…
Fly overnight wherever possible – it definitely helps me adjust better.
I’ve never flown long-haul, but I would make sure to keep hydrated and I would try to adjust to the new time zone by staying awake and adjusting my sleeping to their schedule. To be fair, the lamp looks like a perfect way to adjust so I hope it works for you on your Jamaica trip! I would be using it to beat the winter blues 🙂
Try to stick to your home schedule and stay awake on the first day.
little power naps when possible
A hot bath in the evening to help you sleep followed by berocca in the morning to get you going.
I think it’s best to try and gradually change your sleep pattern in the week or so leading up to travelling. That’s good for the journey there anyway. Coming back I think the best you can do is drink a lot of fluids and try and gradually integrate back into normal sleep times.
I dont know but am eagerly reading these replies in advance of our cruise in February crossing the dateline
Try and sleep on the flight!
Allow one hour per day to get over time zone jetlag
Don’t fly XD
Overnight flights always help, and little naps whilst on them!! 🙂
When you get there try not to sleep until the correct bed time and try and snooze on the plane.
Drink lots of water, and nap when you need it 🙂
Try to take naps and drink plenty of water.
get as much sleep as possible on plane and drink plenty
I always try to take lots of naps on the plane and then have a few hours as soon as I get to the hotel
Drink lots of water regularly
Try and sleep on the plane
Power naps , and sleep at the earliest local time nighttime
if you are unable to have a proper sleep take tiny naps where you can.
Just stay awake as long as you can
Holiday in the UK!
Cucumber on your eyes, lavender on your pillow
Drink lots of water xx
Don’t fly! Planes are bad!
Try to get an overnight flight and snooze if you can
try and get a good nights/afternoons sleep if possible before the actual flight. If its an overnight, take an inflatable cushion x
Set your watch to your destination time as soon as you’ve boarded the plane, and go to bed at your normal time (or as near as possible) when you get there!
I can never sleep on a plane, no matter what I do so my tip is to immediately adjust to the time zone you are in. Personally, I find going to the USA not so bad as its just like a late night i.e. go to bed 9pm their time but my body is telling me its 2 am! Returning from the States is the killer as it can result in being awake for nearly 24 hours but it does work for me and I can function well the next day.
Try to acclimatize to local time as soon as journey begins & don’t stress about it!
Just don’t believe in it and it won’t happen
Try not to sleep during the day
avoid jetlag – stay awake on the journey and don’t sleep at the destination until it’s actually the bedtime you want to reset your sleep too, then get lots of bright light when you force yourself to get up the next morning.
Relax with a couple of drinks.
Just have a short cat nap on the plane then go to bed at your usual time at local time
No matter what time it is when I arrive at my destination, I always stay up until night time. I still duffer with jet lag though
Dont Fly
No matter how tired you, try your best to stay up until local night-time, have an early night by all means but not too early and if you really can’t survive until bedtime make sure you nap for no longer than 1 hour 🙂
Lots of short naps, but try and overall stay up as late as you can when you get there! Perfect excuse for a lie in the next day!
I have none. I always get jetlag on long flight.
Sleep on the plane and try to stay awake when you land till bedtime
pick your flight carefully to minimise it affecting you
I go to Sri Lanka once a year. 12hr flight. I always make sure to take loads of fluid and eat good. and I prefer flying over night so you get to sleep in the flight too. Thank you for the fab prize, would be so useful for me. xx
Nap if you need to, stay hydrated and eat small meals at regular meal times when you get home.
Always follow the destination timezone once on the flight- it makes the transition so much easier!
I’m not sure as I have never flown far enough to experience jet-lag x
fight the urge to sleep! just stay awake until you sleep to local time, yes you will be sleepy but that is a different feeling than sleeping during the day and not being able to adjust, i.e. horrible jetlag!
Time your flights so you can stay up until local bed time.
Stay awake until the local bedtime.
A late night flight, I can’t sleep during the day on flights
Get as much daylight as possible and eat at local mealtimes
get decent amount of sleep before the flight and have a fizzy drink
Don’t Fly!!
I think lots of water helps and taking little steps to get back to the correct time 🙂
If it affects you really badly and you are heading somewhere that you know will affect you, consider a stop over half way to adjust a little more gradually.
Don’t drink alcohol on the flight and eat a banana
Drink a lot of water on the flight and try to stay up as long as possible to reset your body clock
Hydration is the key.
Catch overnight flights and try to sleep on the plane. Also when you arrive at your destination during the day, try to spend time outdoors in the daylight so your body clock can reset to local time.
Adjust to local time as soon as possible.
Try to arrive at your destination early in the morning and make sure you stay hydrated whilst flying
Keep hydrated xx
Travel by boat
try to sleep on the plane.
Get as much sleep as you normally would in a 24-hour period – make up any shortfall with a snooze during the day if necessary.
Take earplugs, an eye mask and a neck pillow and try and get some sleep on the flight.
Set your clocks to the time at your destination when you get on the plane.
Set watch to local time as soon as you board the plane and sleep on the plane
change your sleeping habits to the time zone you are in
Change the time on your watch at the very start of your journey and try and sleep at the normal time for the new time zone!
Change the time on your watch to the time where you are heading x
East to West is always best!
Sleeping mask, earplugs, getting up to stretch in between naps and relaxing music!
Try & sleep on the plane, I haven’t found a trick yet. It always hits me on day 2 & I could sleep all day!!
Plenty of water and try and sleep on the plane.
I suffer badly with jet lag (even with shorter journeys) but I set my watch to the new time zone as soon as we take off.
try and adjust your body a few days before the flight.
Drink a lot of water! If your flight is during your normal pattern of sleep, try to sleep on the plane.
Overnight flights
Try to plan so you have couple of quiet/free days after you get back to sleep and recover before rushing back to work.
Don’t get on the plane!
Try and take as many little naps as you can prior!
set your watch before you take off
Jump into the swimming pool and don’t ever mention the word jet lag.
Fantastic giveaway
Try to book overnight flights and I swear by Melatonin
Don’t travel across time zones, but if you do drink lots and nap on flight.
ive never suffered from it so couldnt advise
When you return from holiday, try to stay awake until your usual bedtime. Therefore trying to encourage your body to get back into it’s normal routine
When you get home try to keep to normal routine and dont go to sleep during the day. You could take melatonin to help body readjust too
Don’t sleep in the day, try and get back to a normal routine as soon as possible
Drink plenty of water and apparently shining a torch on the back of your knees works!
Don’t sleep during the daytime, try and power through to get back to normal routine as soon as possible
Switch your watch to local time before the flight takes off, and get cleaned up as soon as you land – preferably a nice cool shower, but at the very least a good splash of cold water on your face to shake off the cobwebs
When you get to your destination, try to adjust to the new time zone as soon as possible, even if it means keeping your eyes open with matchsticks for 4 more hours. It’s worth it!
take melatonin tablets
Sleep on the plane journey
Overnight flights.
When we fly out to Australia to visit family, I stick with my routine eh sleeping and eating. We don’t have all the meals on the plane and Nightol is great as well
Shine a torch on the back of your knees, if you are flying in darkness to somewhere where it will be daytime, same receptors in the skin of your knees as in your brain to detect light paterns, corrects your natural rhythm
Try and get some sleep on long-haul flights!
Try not to nap.
Don’t fly 😀
Sleep on the flight bur start sleeping at “normal” times as soon as you are in the country
Drink plenty of water
keep hydrated and sleep if possile
Avoid caffeine and keep hydrated!
try and get an over night flight x
Take a night flight and sleep on the plane
Change your watch to your destination countries time and try not to sleep until their time
Drink plenty of fluids especially water to keep hydrated.
sleep on plane
Always prepare yourself a couple of nights before you travel by setting your clock back/forward the few hours it is going to be when you get abroad!
Invest in a quality pair of noise cancellation headphones and try to sleep for as many hours as you need to adjust to the time zone you are arriving at – obviously impacted by your flight time too 🙂
Drink plenty of water and sleep when you need it.
Take an eye-mask, ear plugs and a travel pillow and try and sleep on the flight.
Keep hydrated and just eat light meals on day of flight
nap as much as you can
Stay in the UK!
If arriving home during the day try to stay awake and then have an early night. x
Drink plenty of water and man up!
Travel by train!
I try to eat and sleep on new time as soon as I’m on the plane!
Don’t eat on the plane. Wait until you next meal time in your destination.
Try and sleep on the plane
drink plenty of water
Plenty off sleep if you can
I recommend staying awake! If you sleep too much when you return, it’s tough to get back into a normal routine.
Use Lumie lights advice http://www.lumie.com/blogs/quick-guides/6302492-beat-jet-lag-with-light-therapy as it works and ensure you drink plenty of water. I would love one of my own
Keep hydrating and sneak in some sleep! thanks
Set your alarm when you arrive to wake up at a reasonable hour – have a nice relaxing first day to get your body back in sync.
ive never had jet lag although we are on about going on a long flight so loving the tips
overnight flights and sleep on the plane x
Got to bed when you normally do in local time, even if it means staying awake for more than 24 hours.
Take a boat instead.
I set my watch for the time zone I am going to, then read and have small naps inbetween snacking (really I am just fooling my mind and body to adjust to the different time zone) but it works for me 🙂 x
Before you get on the plane, set your watch to the time at your destination and then follow that time, forget the real time !
move time zones asap & try to sleep if it night at your destination any time during the flight
Try and sleep on the plane and take a short nap when you can.
drink,eat and sleep plenty
Take a night flight
Drink plenty of fluids it can help to keep you refreshed and capable
when you get home get plenty of fresh air, drink lots of water and stay awake as near to your normal home bedtime as possible.
The only thing that helps me is taking daytime flights as my complete inability to get sleep on a plane ensures I am in for trouble. Look forward to trying one of these lights…
Change watch to local time and drink plenty of water on the flight.
Stay at home!
Don’t be tempted to fall asleep. Trick your body into thinking it’s not tired.
sleep 🙂
Overnight flights where possible.
Don’t nap on the plane & drink lots of water.
Drink plenty of water
don’t drink alcohol on the plane and set your clock to the new time zone as soon as you get on the plane and sleep only at night time
Keep off the Alcohol.
Drink plenty of water and try to sleep during the flight
Try and stay up until is is evening local time to try and adjust quickly
Try and sleep on the plane
My best tip on avoiding jet lag is to find a way to sleep on a seat – before you fly!
alot of people have already posted my top tip is try and sleep on the plane and relax as much as possible
Always set your watch to the time zone straight away and fall in with the routine for that time zone
try and choose an overnight flight and don’t drink coffee for about 12 hours before the flight.
try to sleep on the plane
keep hydrated
Have a healthy few days before flying-no alcohol, lots of water and sleep!
Sleep as much as possible
Where possible start to adjust your sleeping and eating times a few days before your journey
plenty of water – a lot of the time i felt i was jetlagged when in fact I was just de hydrated
lots of water
Change your watch and phone time to the destination time zone as soon as possible, even before you get to the airport! Try to match it, even if that mean sleeping on the plane instead of watching in-flight movies!
Switch to “local” time as soon as you get on the plane!
Drink plenty of water and stay away from alcohol. Then try stay awake at your destination until night xx
Adjust to time zone, fresh fruit ,plenty water and sleep
have an overnight flight
Stay hydrated and nap
Try to sleep on the plane
Don’t travel to different timezones.
prepare yourself by gradually adjusting your body clock to the time zone to which u are heading over several days prior to your trip
Stay up as long as possible the next day ie try not to go to bed as soon as you are home and then have an early night. It works for me but I am used to working horrendous nights oncall for the nhs.
Choose a night flight if possible and try get as much sleep as possible
Keep hydrated with lots of water! Avoid all caffeine and alcohol thouh
Drink lots of water to stay hydrated at least a decent sized glass/bottle every hour you’re in the air
I have never really been far enough to experience jet lag! When we took the kids to Spain though we kept them pretty much on english time, so kept them up an hour “later” and they got up and hour “later” (ie 8.30pm-8am rather than 7.30-7) it made it easier for them to adjust.
Keep curtains open if privacy permits to help you wake up on day 1
drink enough water and try to find some time to relax, not necessarily sleeping, just resting a bit
Fly overnight and stop over if possible
stay hydrated and have a sleep
Drink plenty of water and avoid all alcohol
sleep as much as you can when on the plane
Power Naps 🙂
I try to keep to my sleep pattern for my home country on the plain to where I am going and then change it to fit with the country I am visiting for the first 24 hours when I get there.
Adjust your watch to the destination time as soon as you board the flight. Keep hydrated
The supplement melatonin resets your body clock
Is melatonin available in the UK?
Adjust your sleeping routine to match the time zones of your destination and try to stay up all night before an extra long flight so it’s easier to sleep on the way, keep hydrated too. H x
Has to be keeping hydrated on the plane and trying to get some sleep!
get as much sleep as you can whilst travelling and don’t think what time is it back home, trick your mind into the current time
avoid alcohol and travelling with children
I make sure i don’t eat before & during flight & only do so after. It seems to re-set my body clock & i’ve never suffered jet lag since doing this.
Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol on the flight x
Try to subtly adjust on your last few days away. If that means really early mornings or really late nights, it’ll be worth it. Sleep on the plane but only if it’s within the times of sleep at home, not where you were.
Naps and try to relax when possible 🙂
Keep hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
Get yourself on local time, dont sleep for any longer than a short nap before local bedtime 🙂
Drink lots of water before and during the flight and stick to a routine after landing!
Use overnight flights where possible
Ear plugs and a good sleep.
Get out into daylight as soon as possible for as long as possible
try to start adjusting before you travel
Try not to give into sleep when you get home,go to bed at your usual time.
Overnight flights are a must!
Exercise alot the day before so you are tired and sleep on the plane
Start adjusting before you go. Or be a shift worker – I’ve done shifts for so long no it doesn’t affect me!
Stay awake until the bedtime locally
Try and stay awake until it’s bedtime in the place you have travelled to
If you do need a nap, only have 15 minutes
Night flights if possible if not stay away till night time and try have a lay in if possible
Book good flight times so you arrive in the evening and can go straight to bed
Try to fly overnight and sleep on the plane
Fly overnight so you can sleep on the airplane
Keep hydrated
Try to fly of a night, or cat nap and then get a full hours at a reasonable time
Take a few power naps
If you can have small naps when sleepiness hits you after you return! Best to not have long naps in the day try and fight it till at least evening time x
Be strict with yourself – get straight into the routine for the time zone you are in – avoid allowing yourself to nap when you feel tired you’ll never conquer it!
Little naps when you can
Stay in the UK
Sleep as much as possible and keep your fluids up
Don’t fly
Get into a routine for the time zone you’re in, try not to go sleep until a normal bedtime.
Sleep when your body says so
As soon as you get on the plane, make sure you’re on the timezone of your destination. Whether youre coming or going. Don’t let yourself sleep at an inappropriate time and same with staying up when you should be sleeping. Try to have an easy day before coming home.
drink water plenty of it
Don’t eat on the plane & then eat the meal that’s right for local time when you land.
keep hydrated x
put time aside after landing for a nap