A week after returning from the West Coast of the United States, and somehow my body still isn't able to make the adjustment to UK time. To be honest I haven't made much of an effort to get onto the right time zone wither, and it doesn't help that I am naturally what you might call a 'nigh owl' anyway.

So what is the secret? How does one combat the problem of jet lag?

I've turned to the source of all knowledge for an answer; Google. There are a ton of sites all with loads of information and suggestions about what one can do to combat the effects of jet lag.

Actually I never knew it was such a scientifically discussed subject. I had expected there to be more acceptance of the fact that after a long haul flight you'll look just as bad as you do in the passport photograph you won't let anyone other than a immigration official look at.

As ever there are all kinds of inventions to help you combat jet lag. One such invention is a 'Jet lag Light Visor' which looks like a step in the evolutionary chain of an old mining lamp. The idea being that you throw all worries of self image and decorum out of the window and wear this great big light on your head for a scientifically specified amount of time, after which you must sleep or failing that simply knock yourself out in some way.

-- Break - Start over --

Twenty two hours had passed me by in just thirteen hours on the two flights from Los Angeles airport. While my friends in California were making their way to bed I was beginning final approach to Manchester airport where a whole new day was just beginning in the UK. My night had lasted all or about three hours and in that time I had probably gotten maybe one and a half hours sleep.

In the end I elected to go for the stay awake approach. Someone had said to me that just staying awake and going to bed at the usual time for me here in the UK would be the correct thing to do. But by three o'clock in the afternoon I looked as bad as my passport photograph and was as coherent as someone who had spent a long weekend with Jack Daniels.

I tried to sit at my desk and work, I figured I could do the menial tasks like quick email responses and a little tidying up of files. However just before 5pm I was woken by a sharp blow to my head as the desk appeared to jump up and smack me in the face. Sleep was kidnapping me, I had little choice but to offer no further resistance.

The following day I woke up at 11:02. This annoyed me as I had set my phone to wake me up at 8:30am. The alarm had gone off as programmed, but I switched it off assuring myself I would have 'five more minutes.' As I sat up in bed I glanced over again at the digital clock. At this angle I could see the time properly. 11:02 was in actual fact 17:02. I had slept all day long!

--- Article Notes ---

Time of death : 23:05
In truth the reason that I stopped writing this particular article was that I was unable to focus on it because I was just so tired such were the long lasting effects of the subject matter! I wanted to write something funny about jet lag and the possible ways to avoid its effects. I researched the subject online but actually fell asleep on my couch with the laptop on my chest. I did try to return to it a couple of days later when I was feeling more alive, but inspiration was not forthcoming.