Remove the jet lag from your next trip...

Traveling across different time zones can dramatically impact a sleep routine, as can the hectic schedule of business travel, or even the fun and entertainment of a pleasure trip. Our bodies have circadian rhythms that act just like a clock and follow a natural 24-hour cycle. Those circadian rhythms can be slow to adjust to a new time zone, which means we may experience the wakefulness of morning at midnight. The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to help your body's rhythms adjust to a new time zone.

 For brief trips, try to keep activities as close to a normal time as possible. For example, if you've just traveled from California to New York, you might consider eating an earlier dinner and getting to bed earlier than your normal hour.

• Get some sun to help regulate your body's natural melatonin levels and to reset your internal clock. Getting outside for some early morning sun may mean that you'll adjust more rapidly to a new time zone.

• Try to stay awake until it's actually bedtime at your new location. Forcing your body to meet a new schedule can help speed adjustment.

•  For longer trips, anticipate the new time zone and slowly adjust your daily schedule to better match the times of your destination prior to departure.

•  Avoid alcohol and caffeine before bedtime.

Just a few minor adjustments can help ease your system into a new time zone and new routine. Remember, even when you travel, sleep is as important as it is when you're at home!