Getting it wrong on jet lag

A New York Times travel advice column got it wrong on one aspect of jet lag.

Stephanie Rosenbloom, the Getaway columnist, advised that when flying east…

you must expose yourself to light early, advancing your body clock so that it will be in sync with the new time zone.

That’s the opposite of what experts advise, as the example she cited points out. When flying east, you should delay exposing yourself to light so as to retard your body clock’s syncing with the new time zone.

This isn’t new advice: I remember reading 15 years ago about air travelers from the U.S. arriving in London wearing welder’s goggles until noon or thereafter. Dark sunglassses are just as effective — and more fashionable.