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Beating the body clock
 Catnapping when tired is a great way to beat jetlag. BUSINESS TRAVELLER
QUICKVOTEYOUR SAY
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS(CNN) -- For long-distance business travelers, conquering jet lag is a priority as they need to maximize their performance on the road. From standard cures such as sleeping tablets to more unorthodox approaches involving large amounts of alcohol or spicy food, many business travelers swear by different techniques for resetting their body clocks. Perhaps you have more useful hints? Have your say. Maximum sunlight, a tip recommended by experts, is a popular method, with some executives favoring window seats on aircraft. "On westbound long-range flights expose yourself to the maximum sunlight," says Roland Mueller-Buchner, of Hannover, Germany. "In these days of usually murky weather in the northern hemisphere, it often provides for the only hours of sunshine in days!" Jen and Geege of Island, Denmark also seek out the sunshine -- and the weather -- at their destination. "We rarely feel jet lag for more than the first day, and even then, we get through the day fairly well. We also go outside to let our bodies adjust to the time at our destination - by experiencing the daylight or evening weather." Other travelers rely on forward planning, trying to reset their body ahead of, or during the journey. "When I'm on the flight, I immediately set my watch to match that of the destination," says Carole Soldat of River Forest, Illinois. "I also avoid caffeine and fatty foods; try to stick to veggies and protein. When I get to my destination, I take a leisurely shower and freshen up, then get out into the air." "Finally, I try to stay up until close to my normal bed-time. If I follow this routine, I have a slightly rocky first day but then catch up and am not jet-lagged for the rest of my time overseas." Craig Guttman also believes in preparation, but relies on sleeping tablets to regulate his slumber. "The key to traveling overseas is to prepare one's sleep according to the time one arrives. If one arrives in the evening, it is critical to be awake for the final three to four hours. If one arrives in the morning, it is critical to sleep until the flight arrives. All of this must be done with sleeping pills. "The other easy way to adjust to time zones, is to use the heaviest dose of sleeping pills for the flight and for the first night of sleep, and gradually decrease the amount each day, up to four days." "I just force myself to adjust to the new time zone," says Riaan Muller of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, "If it's daytime, I stay awake, if it's night time, I sleep ... admittedly, it's not always easy to force myself to sleep. I make sure I adjust to meals (by skipping meals, not adding) and exercise ... hotel gyms, spas, saunas." A more unusual solution to jet lag is offered by Sharon Casey of London. "I know it is not suggested, but a glass of wine is good. then, when you land, try to work in some cardio exercise." Wujun Barcelon, of Manila, Philippines, has a more relaxed approach to battling the body's clock. "I find the best way is not to fight the urge to sleep. A five minute catnap will do wonders to recharge the body. Although, when I must stay awake and can't afford to sleep, I find it most effective to eat something really spicy -- anything with chili pepper and hot sauce! I guarantee it not only wakes me up, it also keeps me up." And as for preparation, Barcelon says a night on the town will usually do the trick. "The best solution for me is to party the whole night away before the trip -- preferably with a lot of alcohol. It's guaranteed to make me asleep on the plane. When I wake up, my body clock is already adjusted." 
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