Your body runs on an internal clock (the circadian rhythm) that regulates:

- Sleep/wake cycles
- Hormones (like cortisol & melatonin)
- Digestion timing
- Immune function

Frequent flying across time zones can cause a disruption in your circadian rhythm , leading to tiredness, exhaustion, and low mood. Everyone is an individual and their experience of jet lag and travel fatigue is therefore unique to them. Personal lifestyle choices will have an impact on jet lag and travel fatigue.

Most people crossing time zones will suffer from a mixture of the following:

- A change in sleeping pattern: leading to daytime fatigue, decreased concentration, mood changes, and irritability.
- Digestive changes: bloating, constipation, gastric reflux and general abdominal discomfort

Possible effects:
- Fragmented, shallow sleep
- Reduced REM + deep sleep
- Poor recovery

Possible long-term effects
- Burnout
- Reduced cognitive performance
- Increased risk of metabolic issues

Herbs and a naturopathic approach to life can help to support your body while flying frequently.

Frequent flying can put your body into a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state.

Triggers:

- Travel stress
- Delays and disruptions
- Sleep disruption
- Time pressure
- Environmental stressors

Symptoms:

- Anxiety or restlessness
- Poor digestion (gut shuts down under stress)
- Fatigue but feeling wired

When all of the above are combined, you may see:

Short-term:
- Fatigue
- Digestive discomfort
- Poor sleep
- Brain fog

Medium-term:
- Hormonal imbalance
- Increased stress load
- Reduced immune resilience

Long-term (if unmanaged):
- Chronic inflammation
- Metabolic dysfunction
- Burnout
- Increased susceptibility to illness