Question

Why might you experience jet lag if you travel across the United States on a plane? Predict which direction it would be more difficult to adjust to jet lag-when traveling from Hawaii to New York or New York to Hawaii. Support your answer with an example of each situation.

Short answer

It's generally harder to adjust to jet lag when traveling east, like from Hawaii to New York.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Jet Lag

Jet lag is a temporary sleep disorder that occurs when you travel across time zones, your internal body clock is out of sync with the new local time. The more time zones you cross, the more pronounced the jet lag can become.

Traveling Hawaii to New York

When traveling from Hawaii to New York, you are moving eastwards and experiencing a forward shift in time zones. For example, if it is midnight in Hawaii, it is already 6 a.m. in New York the next day. This shift can make it more difficult to adjust as you may find yourself awake during the New York nighttime.

Traveling New York to Hawaii

Conversely, when traveling from New York to Hawaii, you move westwards and experience a backward shift in time zones. If it is midnight in New York, it is 6 p.m. the previous day in Hawaii, which may feel like a free stretch of time to your body, potentially making it easier to adjust.

Direction of More Difficult Adjustment

Generally, it is harder to adjust when traveling east, such as from Hawaii to New York, because you 'lose' hours and it's difficult to advance your sleep schedule. The body naturally adjusts to a longer day more easily than a shorter one.

Key concepts

Time Zones

Time zones are imaginary lines that divide the Earth into sections, each one an hour apart. As you travel across the globe, you might notice the time on your watch changes even though it hasn't felt like that much time has passed.
This is because different areas of the world are in different time zones, and when you cross from one into another, local time changes.

• Each time zone represents one hour of the 24-hour day.
• When you travel across several time zones, you're effectively losing or gaining hours.
• The United States alone has several time zones, including Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific.

This system can create confusion, especially when traveling, as it can affect your daily schedule, sleep pattern, and more.

Body Clock Adjustment

Your body has an internal clock known as the circadian rhythm. This clock helps regulate when you feel awake and when you feel sleepy.
It usually aligns with the light and dark cycles of your current location. When you quickly cross multiple time zones, this natural process is disrupted.
Adjusting your body clock to a new time zone is known as jet lag. Some ways to help adjust include:

• Gradually adjusting your sleep schedule a few days before you travel.
• Getting plenty of sunlight upon arrival, as natural light can help reset your body clock.
• Changing your watch to the new local time as soon as you board the plane.

Body clock adjustment can be challenging, but patience and some helpful strategies can make the transition smoother.

Eastward Travel Challenges

Traveling east, like moving from Hawaii to New York, presents unique challenges. Your body is required to "lose" time as you must adjust to sleeping and waking earlier than usual.
For instance, a new day starts much earlier in New York than in Hawaii. If it's 10 PM in Hawaii, it's already 4 AM in New York.
This change means you may have to sleep when you're still feeling wide awake.
This is more challenging because:

• Your body prefers to extend the day rather than shorten it.
• Early sleep might be difficult as your body isn’t ready to rest yet.
• It's harder to advance your body's internal clock than to delay it.

Eastward travel can result in feeling tired during the day and wide awake at night until your body adjusts.

Westward Travel Advantages

When you travel west, such as from New York to Hawaii, the transition often feels easier on your body.
You gain hours instead of losing them, which means your body gets more time to adjust its sleep schedule to the new location.
For example, when it's 8 PM in New York, it’s only 2 PM on the same day in Hawaii. This can make the adjustment feel like a natural extension of your day.
This is why:

• The body finds it easier to handle a longer day, accepting additional hours more readily.
• Sleeping later often aligns better with the body's natural tendencies.
• Many people find it more natural and less exhausting to adjust to westward travel compared to eastward travel.

Westward travel offers the body more flexibility and time for gradual adjustment.