Dr. Levin interviewed in Venture magazine, April 1981
Jet lag produces symptoms ranging from mild tiredness and headaches to a sense of disorientation and exhaustion. While jet lag may not be completely avoidable, there are strategies which can lessen the strain of traveling.
According to Dr. Warren Levin, who heads the executive oriented World Health Group in New York, stress plays a major role in causing jet lag. He recommends definitive plans for a cab, friend, or limousine to drive you to the airport well in advance of flight departure to eliminate last-minute scrambles for cabs and searches for parking spaces in airport.
On the other end of your flight, track down information on shuttle buses, rental cars, and the availability of cabs before you leave, or arrange for an associate to drive you to your destination. Levin recommends carrying a pocket airline guide in case of flight cancellation.
Carry essential materials on board to reduce the chance of losing anything vital to meetings. Avoid demanding paperwork on board to reduce stress and also because you won’t perform at peak efficiency during your trip.
Sheila Cuff, who operates health spas in Palm Springs and Ojai, Calif., and leads “health holiday” tours several times annually, suggests setting limits on 1 or 2 hours for demanding intellectual tasks. Both Cuff and Levin say they are generally partial to light reading which Levin says is usually “something I’d normally feel guilty about.”