I had to cut short my visit to Austin, TX, to start a new contract on Monday 19th March.
The ever-present problem of time-zone adjustment and jet-lag is a bit of a bugger.
When I flew back from LA last summer, the jet-lag wrecked four solid days; this time I thought I’d get right on top of the problem.
And I have.
Here’s how:
Thursday, Austin, Texas:
- Up at 9.30
- Busy and full day
- Busy and full evening
- Busy and full night until 2.30am
- DO NOT SLEEP AT ALL TODAY
Friday, Austin, Texas:
- 2.30am, catch a taxi back to the hotel
- Pack
- Check out
- Catch a taxi to the airport
- Check in at the airline desk
- Go through TSA/Customs
- Sit in the departure lounge and read
- Board the flight to Chicago
- Read some more
- Allow yourself two hours sleep
- Arrive Chicago
- Make my way to the appropriate departure lounge
- Read a little more
- Board the flight to London
- Read lots
- Write lots of notes
- Listen to music
- Arrive Heathrow (10.40pm)
- Go through passport control
- Collect suitcase
- Go through customs
- Pick up car
- Do a little shopping at a 24-hour Tesco
- Drive home
- APART FROM THOSE TWO HOURS, DO NOT SLEEP AT ALL TODAY
Saturday, Witney, Oxfordshire
- Arrive home (2am)
- Put the shopping away
- Unpack
- Have a snack
- Go to bed
- Read until dozy
- Sleep (4 hours)
- Get up at 8.30am
- Have a full and active day/evening
- Go to bed at 11.30pm
Sunday, Witney, Oxfordshire
- Wake at 9.30am
- Have a full and normal day because (tada!) you are back on UK time
Simples.