By Jenny E., our experienced Travel blogger

Yesterday, Jenny wrote about how to combat jet lag while traveling. Here are her top tips on how to deal with jet lag once you’ve arrived:

ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION

Sunlight: If it’s still daylight, get outside and expose your body to sunlight. Natural sunlight will help your body regulate its sleep patterns and adapt to the new time zone.

Movement/Exercise: Try to get some physical activity. Daily exercise has been shown to increase the quality of sleep. You will typically fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly. If you really need an energy boost, exercise releases endorphins that increase energy in the body. With that in mind, avoid exercise too close to bedtime as it may impair your ability to fall asleep.

Keep a Schedule: Attempt to stay awake during the daylight hours of your new destination and get in bed at the same time each evening. By creating a schedule, you’ll be training the body to adapt to the new time zone.

Avoid Alcohol: Alcohol may help you fall asleep faster, but it typically prevents you from reaching deep REM sleep (the most restful) and you may wake up more often during the night.

Thanks Jenny! Have a jet lag/traveling tips of your own? Post it in the Comments below!!

By Jenny E., our experienced Travel blogger

Crossing several time zones can have a huge effect on your energy and capability to perform as a businessperson, or hamper your ability to fully enjoy your vacation destination.

Fortunately there are several things you can do to minimize the effects of jet lag:

AIR TRAVEL TIPS

Water: The environment on an airplane is very dehydrating, which can seriously affect your body’s ability to function optimally.

• Be sure to drink plenty of water and keep any caffeinated or alcoholic beverages to a minimum. Caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, which pull water out of the body and can lead to dehydration.
• You may be tempted to drink alcohol to help you sleep if it’s a long flight, but studies have shown that you may fall asleep more quickly, but the quality of your sleep will decrease – you are likely to wake up more often.

Food: You can keep the body’s energy supply steadier by eating a combination of protein and carbohydrates, rather than by eating carbohydrates alone. The protein causes the energy (glucose) of the food to be released more slowly and steadily.

Eating something like pretzels can give you a rush of energy (glucose) but then levels drop very quickly, leaving you tired and craving another similar carbohydrate. Some examples of better snack choices include:

• energy bars
• cheese
• dried fruit
• nuts
• seeds
• trail mix
• yogurt

Sleeping: Some air travelers advocate adopting the time zone of your destination as soon as you step on the airplane, and adapt by sleeping and eating accordingly. Others employ the “sleep while you can get it” methodology.

It really depends on how many time zones you will be crossing, and you will need to experiment to see what works best for you.

Personally, I am a huge advocate for earplugs and an eye mask. On long flights I don’t travel without them. Small foam ear plugs block out a lot of the noise – flight attendants going up and down the aisles, people talking and the possibility of crying children. The eye mask blocks out light if I am trying to sleep when the cabin lights are on and improves the quality of my sleep.

If you have any rituals or routines that you normally do before going to bed at home, try to use them on the plane if possible. For instance, I normally read in bed. It relaxes me and gets my mind to stop thinking about the day or planning ahead to tomorrow. I always travel with a book and it never fails to put me to sleep – I can even be asleep before takeoff!

Sleeping Aids: If sleeping on an airplane is next to impossible for you and it is crucial that you get rest, taking a sleep aid may be helpful. Talk to your physician about what over the counter or prescription medications may help. It is important that you understand how much to take, how long it will last and what the possible side affects may be.

Check back tomorrow for Jenny’s tips on how to combat jet lag after you arrive at your destination…

By Lauren W., our College blogger.

In the past decade, the amount of American college students who have taken the chance to study in other countries has risen tremendously. Colleges and universities throughout America are offering students opportunities to live and study in foreign countries ranging from Canada all the way to Tokyo. Programs are offered in the summer, for a semester, for J-Term, and even a full year!

College students are taking advantages of these programs more than ever due to many positive impacts such as a new found confidence, new friends, new independence, and a respect for other countries and their cultures. Studying abroad in college is the chance of a life time. What other point in your life will you have 6 months to a year free to live in another country without an consequences or responsibilities at home? Chances are that will be rare to find after graduation.

However, choosing to study abroad entails a lot of research and preparation. Here are a few great tips to get you started:

So many options!: There are an endless amount of programs available to study abroad. Some colleges have their own campuses in other countries, such as Italy or China. Schools that have these campuses make it easy to study abroad. Prices are generally the same at either campus and classes fit the criteria for graduation without any weird technicalities.

Many schools offer programs through other universities. Do research and look at what program fits you best. Look at the courses offered, the price, and of course location to pick the program that will give you the experience of a lifetime.

Talk to an academic adviser: Once you have an idea of what program you are interested in, make sure to make an appointment with an academic adviser. It is important to go over what classes you are planning on taking abroad with an adviser to make sure the classes are approved for the university and will count towards credits.

There have been many stories reported of students who did not do this and returned only to have the school deny the class because it did not fill its requirements.

Explore!: Studying abroad is an experience that is special and should be taken advantage of. Many study abroad programs will offer weekend trips to explore the country and what is has to offer. These trips not only open up student’s eyes to their surroundings but can bond fellow students, making the experience even better. The friendships made while studying abroad are connected by a special bond.

Take advantage of the sites, the culture, and immerse yourself in the local social scene! After all, it is not very often you will get a chance to live in a foreign country without many strings attached.

Are your New Year’s resolutions focused on getting more organized and save some money? Here are a few articles and tips to help you keep that resolution going:

1. Talk to your insurance agent: Make sure you have enough coverage now so that you’re not racking up expensive credit cards bills in the wake of a natural disaster or fire:

Home 

• Homeowners: Ask About Insurance
• Renter’s Insurance
• When to Review Your Policy
• Adding Additional Coverage

Car

• Accidents - Ask Your Insurance Agent
  
• Car Insurance Coverage Questions

2. Keep your numbers safe: Identity theft can certainly put a dent in things financially. How to keep your information safe from thieves:

• Top Ten Tax Time Safety Tips
• Detecting ID Theft
• Prevent ID Theft

3. Carry smart: You certainly don’t want a thief spending all your hard-earned cash! Keep an eye out when shopping or running errands:

• ATM Safety Tips
• Shopping Safety - Stay Smart
• Wallet/Purse Theft - Carry Smart

Have a tip to share? Post it in our Comments section below!!

The worst time to be choosing a mechanic is when your car is broken down on the side of the road, spewing smoke and dripping fluids everywhere.

Okay, so it might not smoke…but your car WILL break down some day, some way.

So do your future self a favor and choose a mechanic you’ll actually like. How to get started:

1. Ask friends and family where they take their car and what type of service they get, especially if their car is the same make/model as yours.

2. You can also try reputable directories to find a licensed mechanic - try Angie’s List (paid service), Better Business Bureau and the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence.

3. More tips from mechanics and motorists… 

Hopefully this will never happen to any of you…but it might happen (or has already happened) to someone you know.

Layoffs are a common cause of job loss but natural disasters can also cause someone to lose their job. Just one month after Hurricane Katrina, over 217,000 of the 800,000 evacuees were unemployed (that’s more people than the population of Salt Lake City!!), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To help you combat the financial crisis that may come with any job loss or to prepare just in case this might happen to you, the University of Florida Extension service has put together an article with 9 guidelines to “help you hold onto what resources you have and survive this financial crisis.”

• “What to Do If You Lose Your Job” (University of Florida Extension service)

Still trying to keep those New Years’ resolutions alive? Here are four easy tasks to keep you going:

• Get organized: January is National Get Organized Month - the perfect month to create a home inventory! Never done one? We’ve made it easy to get started…
• Reduce stress: Put your mind at ease by getting together home and car disaster preparedness kits.
• Financial security: Make copies of all your important documents and keep them in a secure location like a home safe.
• See the world: Thinking of traveling abroad? First you’ll need a passport! Apply for yours today…

What’s your resolution? Share yours in the Comments section below!

The Consumerist blog has listed the top 7 things you can check on your car today to save money (they found the tips in a summer issue of USAA magazine). The first two:

1. ENGINE COOLANT AND ANTIFREEZE
How Often: Check twice yearly, once before summer and again before winter; change if coolant has brown tint or rust bits.
Pay Now: Free to check; up to $5 to top off with correct mix of water and coolant or antifreeze. If you don’t use the right coolant for your car, you could damage your engine.
Or Pay Later: Without coolant, you can damage the water pump ($50 to $100) and possibly your engine.

2. OIL
How Often: Check monthly; change every 3,000 to 6,000 miles
Pay Now: Free to check; $20 to change yourself (oil, disposal fees); $20 to $40 at a shop.
Or Pay Later: Not changing the oil can void your warranty. Increased wear will shorten the engine’s life span. Rebuilt engines cost $1,000 to $3,000, plus labor, depending on the car.

3. The rest of the article… 

These tips also go hand in hand with our previous interviews with the Car Coach and certified mechanic, Lauren Fix. Read her top advice:

• Fall/Winter Car Care Maintenance
• Switching Gears

Headed back to school after the holidays? Watch out for the winter woes and the Freshman 15!  

By Lauren W., our College blogger

It is a myth every high school senior and college freshmen are aware of, even obsessed with…it is the curse the “Freshman 15.” The Freshman 15 is attributed to the average weight gained by students during the first two semesters of college.

Coming home from breaks and seeing friends, it can be hard not to notice the new weight gain. However, if keeping those 15 pounds away are important to you, it is manageable to keep them off without dedicating your whole life to staying the same weight.

Eat Healthy: Dorm food can be, well…absolutely disgusting, not to mention very unhealthy. If this is the case at your university or college, it can be hard to find a truly healthy meal. Many school cafeterias offer a wide variety of food, and although the ooey-gooey pizza looks so tempting, chances are there are much healthier options.

Cafeterias will almost always have a salad option, fruit and vegetables available, wheat bread, and milk available, just to name a few options. If the cafeteria food becomes too much of a chore to eat, healthy snacks are a great option. Pretzels, apples, and other vegetables are great to have in the dorm room so when the hunger strikes there is something other than potato chips and cookies.

Work it out!: The majority of colleges offer gyms and work out areas for the students to use. If you are not involved in a sport, these facilities are a great way to stay in shape. Campus gyms are usually free to all students.

If the treadmill, elliptical, and bike are machines that make your motivation to work out lessen, be not afraid! There are many classes offered for students to participate in anywhere from Pilates to Hip-Hop dance classes. These classes usually meet once or twice a week. Not only are they a great work out but a great way to meet people!

Weekends: Cafeteria food is not the only thing to affect freshmen bellies…the consumption of beer and alcohol will make a huge contribution as well. The amount of calories consumed by beer drinking alone is tremendous.

Think twice before grabbing an alcoholic drink, not only is it illegal for freshmen college students, but it is full of empty calories.

Best of luck!!

By Jenna B., our Hospital blogger

“All I need is two stitches—why am I still waiting?”

“They gave me an IV for my dehydration—when are they going to take it out?”

Going to the doctor’s office, hospital, or emergency room is rarely a speedy process. Even if your complaint is minor, there are often many different factors that go into your medical treatment—and they all take some time! For a few helpful examples, see below…

STITCHES: If you have to get stitches, your doctor may use a numbing gel like TAC or LET (2 common topical anesthetics). This gel takes between 20 and 40 minutes to work. The longer the gel is on, the better it numbs the skin—so if you have a deep cut or a cut in a sensitive area (like your face), your doctor may wait even longer.

IVs: IV fluids can take between 30 and 90 minutes to “drain,” depending on the substance used and the seriousness of your condition. For example, Reglan (a medication used to treat nausea) sometimes takes about 15 minutes to administer, while medications like Vancomycin (used to combat bacterial infections) may take up to 90 minutes.

BLOOD DRAWS/LAB TESTS: The process of having blood drawn is so rapid that it is often difficult to understand why the wait to discover your results is so long. Most doctors’ offices send you home after having labs drawn (and call you only if your results are abnormal) for this very reason: it can take 60-90 minutes for your lab results to come back. If you are in a hospital or emergency room setting, you will often have to wait for your lab results because these results are very important: they can tell your doctor if you have low blood sugar, low iron levels, etc.

X-RAYS: X-rays are similarly quick to take, but longer to read. X-rays must be read and interpreted by a doctor (M.D.) or radiologist (a doctor who specializes in X-rays). Nurses, x-ray technicians, and other staff cannot read these results for you, so when you’re waiting for the results of an X-ray, it likely means that a doctor or radiologist is not immediately available to read it. (For example, if you break your leg at 3 in the morning, when no radiologist is on duty, the nurses may have to call a radiologist in—which, again, takes a while.)

WHN TIP: For some X-rays, you may have to drink Contrast (a chalky liquid that helps your internal organs show up better during the scan). If you have to drink this, you will need to wait 60-90 minutes before your scan can even be done.

The bottom line? On any medical visit (whether it’s a routine appointment or a trip to the emergency room), be prepared to wait if you’re scheduled for any kind of procedure (stitches, IVs, blood draws, and the like). Above all, bring your patience—and maybe a good book!