Last week, jet lag struck with a vengeance. I cannot explain why it was more disruptive than usual. I had traveled West rather than East and remained hydrated throughout the international flight. I also attempted to conform to the new time zone immediately. These factors should have made my transition somewhat easier. Yet despite the direction of my international travel, adequate liquid intake, and being proactive, I suffered jet lag.
I wandered around my house aimlessly. I could not concentrate during the day. My head felt like I was wearing a hat that was three sizes too small. I sensed that I was on the verge of getting sick. Fortunately, I never did. Erratic and unpredictable sleep patterns exacerbated my symptoms. Caffeine was not effective. Its energizing effects were overshadowed by midday sleepiness. Being unproductive and out of sorts was disconcerting. I waited patiently for the symptoms to subside.
After a handful of days, my life went back to normal. I went into hyperdrive as I attempted to catch up for lost time. Being away for almost 3 weeks was disruptive enough without having to also deal with jet lag. But then again, jet lag did provide a bridge between the thrill of being on vacation and the return to every day life. The time I spent letting my body readjust its time clock allowed a small amount of quiet reflective time. I organized my photos and reminisced. My body as well as my mind slowly returned to normal. What a luxury it was to take a few extra days to recoup and think about what I had experienced.
Being a writer permitted such an indulgence. If my job required set hours, I would have had no choice but to power through moments of fogginess and grogginess. Instead, I chose to wait until my thoughts were more lucid before I attempted to write. Luckily, I had prepared book reviews in advance. I posted those articles while I was away and continued while I was recuperating from jet lag. The downside is that my backup folder is depleted.
Now that I have recovered from jet lag, I am back to writing, I cannot wait to share my Mediterranean cruise experiences and my book’s progress. This week, I will receive the latest version of my memoir. After numerous formatting delays, I am cautiously optimistic that I will be able to publish my book, May This Be the Best Year of Your Life, in December. I will announce the release date as soon as it is known.
In the meantime, I am thankful that my body and mind are once again in harmony and that my jet lag has faded away. Despite the inconveniences associated with international travel, I look forward to my next adventure abroad.
MAY THIS BE THE BEST YEAR OF YOUR LIFE is available on Amazon.
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