How to Beat Jet Lag

We’re so lucky to live in Hong Kong where travel is often cheap, accessible and beautiful destinations are just a hop, step and a leap away. And with so many public holidays to take advantage of, I am perpetually planning our next adventure, while also trying to squeeze in long-haul trips to Ireland and the UK to keep the families happy! On top of all the fun stuff; work commitments mean that we’re expected to travel mid-week – sometimes at short notice – while still staying on our A-Game in the office.

While it may seem like a ‘First World Problem’; with the constant cycle of jet setting, comes the dreaded travel hangover that is jet lag. It affects me differently each time I transit through time zones and can linger for days or weeks as I welcome 3am, staring at the ceiling, ready to raid the fridge for pasta.

While it’s not realistic to completely avoid the pitfalls of jet lag, I have put together my top tips to minimise the strain on your mind and body, and make the whole experience of globetrotting much more bearable!

1. Readjust Your Body Clock

If your trip is planned well in advance, it’s always an advantage to gradually introduce your body to the new time zone. Shifting your daily regimes by a few hours can really help you to sync with your destination. As soon as you board the flight, set your watch and electronics to the local destination time. Many of us let our tummies dictate our eating habits when we arrive at a far flung place (show of hands for anyone who has ever dug into a tub of ice cream in the middle of the night on vaycay?). However, jet lag interferes with bodily processes and sunlight, and sleeping and eating at the right time for your environment stimulates them to function orderly again. Squeezing in some gentle exercise during daylight hours should also help to tire you out and have you ready to hit the pillow at a regular time.

2. During the Flight 

Have a nutritious, filling meal pre-flight and eat lightly during air time – arriving hungry will encourage you to get into the rhythm of the local journeys-end and this will also aid digestion which can become sluggish mid-air.

Try to resist overdoing it on the wine or champagne and remember the golden rule: one on the ground is worth two in the air! A glass or two is a lovely treat and should be enough to help you nod off on a night time flight but limit it to that unless you want to wake up with jet lag and a hangover. So not a good look. Drinking at least two litres of water in flight will keep you hydrated and help you to feel fresh on arrival.

3. In Flight Essentials 

You don’t have to be in business class to spoil yourself mid-air. Even if you’re squeezed into a tiny seat on a budget airline, travelling with a collection of your favourite products sets you up to look and feel fantastic as soon as you step out onto the tarmac. I make sure to have a little bag of mini products ready at all times that I can chuck into my carry case and rest assured that I will be fresh throughout the journey and feel the benefit on arrival.

Hydration is key – I advise to go sans slap for any flight over five hours – and make sure to pack comfy clothes to maximise relaxation. Remember to carry a nourishing face wash to use on board, or when you reach your destination, to kick-start the day or prime your skin for a good night’s sleep.

If you are lucky enough to travel business class with Virgin Atlantic, we highly recommend sleeping in the sky with their bespoke aromatherapy package, full of gorgeous “de Mamiel” and “This Works” beauty products. Each passenger will be gifted with a variety of perfectly blended oils and a selection relaxation techniques to aid sleep and banish jetlag. The packages are tailored for day and evening flights and my personal winner is the divine Deep Sleep Pillow Spray from “This Works” – a couple of spritzes of this lavender and camomile blend had me sleeping soundly after drifting off to a range of on board mindfulness films designed by ‘Headspace”.

4. Try A Holistic Therapy

Trust me, I’m all for nipping into one of the many massage spots for a cheap and cheerful foot rub, but after indulging in the utter opulence of the Four Seasons Spa, I am completely converted to their signature treatments and incomparable client care. After reading about their jet lag solution massage package, I was intrigued to see if it could ease the impact of frequent travel or relieve some of the stresses that come with living in a frenetic city like Hong Kong!

After a consultation process, guests are led to a warm footbath where camomile and red wine (yep, you read that right!) are used to cleanse your feet and prepare your skin for massage. The therapy is split into two ninety-minute parts: awakening in the morning with a mint and Tahitian sand scrub and an invigorating massage and returning in the evening to unwind with a tension-melting massage performed with a rich chamomile cream and a snug heated body wrap. Each and every detail at the Four Seasons is absolutely on point: from the expansive facilities that clients can avail of, to the magnificent surroundings of the massage rooms, to the personalised attention from the expert staff.

My body and mind had a profoundly positive reaction immediately after each session; emerging energised and reinvigorated after the awakening treatment and strolling home blissfully tranquil after the evening massage. I would readily recommend this for frequent fliers, overloaded girl bosses or anyone on the market for a few hours of sublime self-care. It is certainly one way to get your sleep back on track with lavish luxury.

With these tips in mind, I urge you to go forth and book another break to try them out for yourself – ya, like you needed an excuse!

Original article appeared on Sassy Hong Kong

https://www.sassyhongkong.com/wellness-jet-lag-remedies/ 

All images courtesy of Sassy Hong Kong and Taking Hong Kong

Sponge: Mobile Beauty Service for HK's Lively Ladies

It’s almost December and our calendars are filling up with festive invitations, faster than you can say “Father Christmas”. We’ve got it all going on: from office parties, to seasonal socials and family obligations. Oh, and we also have to hold down those day jobs to fund these frolics! Ladies - it’s a lot - I hear you. With so much to think about, Diane Younes and her Sponge team have popped up at the perfect time to launch the city’s slickest at-home hair and makeup service, to help us look and feel fabulous for any occasion.

Diane herself is the most impressive advert for Sponge, as she arrived to our meeting with meticulous makeup and her hair in a chic chignon. Her drive and determination is infectious and her personal connection to the brand is evident in every element of Sponge. She is the epitome of a #girlboss - after leaving behind her corporate number in New York to move to HK - where she discovered that we were missing the effective, efficient and economical beauty services synonymous with NYC. Cue some serious hustle and the birth of Sponge, which offers women an extensive range of hair and makeup looks in your home, office or, anywhere that is convenient for you; all you need is a flat surface and a plug – genius!

The whole process is a pleasure; start by choosing your desired looks from the website and locking in your preferred appointment slot. I decided to go for The Weekender hair which promised cool waves and an undone look and The Influencer makeup: a smoky eye, contoured cheek bones and a neutral lip. I was clearly going for Gisele vibes and while I, unfortunately, did not transform into an Amazonian Goddess (sob), I did feel super swish and pampered after my session!

The only thing I was slightly apprehensive about was inviting people into my home to complete this service. Undergoing beauty treatments can be a personal and intimate experience – especially in a HK sized apartment – so you really need to have the right personalities to make sure it doesn’t get awkward. Don’t sweat it though, Diane is a step ahead and has assembled a Sponge squad who are talented, warm and friendly; a joy to welcome into your private space. I was lucky enough to have two ladies who were pleasant but professional, punctual and prompt – everything took just under an hour and we even had time for a sign along to Britney’s greatest hits. Yep, those girls rocked!

 I was really pleased with my finished looks and so impressed by the ease and affordability of the service. Everything at Sponge is customisable and after chatting with my stylists, I was able to create an individual look that I was fully satisfied with – all while lounging in my living room. This is definitely something I can see myself getting hooked on so, I may need to ask Santa for some Sponge vouchers in my stocking this year!  

Appointments can be booked anything from two hours to one month in advance, with prices from HK$330 to HK$440 for hair and HK$440 to HK$550 for makeup. Eyelash extensions are also available and you can avail of a HK$50 discount off your first appointment, when you enter the promotion code “FIRST50” at checkout. Happy pampering and here’s to a new way of doing beauty in HK!

www.gosponge.com

The Service 1921 Restaurant & Bar - Chiang Mai

As a lover of Thai food, I thought I had tried it all: from the classic pad Thais and papaya salads to the more intricate and unusual dishes created in the northern regions of Thailand. On a recent trip to Chiang Mai, I was eager to try one of the city's finest and – more importantly – unique dining spots and knew that The Service 1921 had to be at the top of my list. This famed eatery is heralded by most publications and has been favourably reviewed by those who have been lucky enough to try it. With this in mind, I was both excited and apprehensive to put it to the test: enthusiastic to try Chiang Mai's top-rated venue and very hopeful that it would not disappoint, as hyped venues unfortunately often do. 

The restaurant is set in the grounds of the Anantara Hotel, which introduces the stunning scene for the most sublime dining experience that is to come. Everything about the hotel staff, gardens and setting on the Ping River is perfectly in tandem and effortlessly and consistently ties together the key ingredients of great culinary adventure, slick customer service, delectable food and sensational surroundings. The alluring atmosphere of mystery and intrigue is present from the moment one steps inside The Service 1921.

We began our experience in the bar and were immediately immersed in the historical artefacts on show. The colonial house originally opened as the British Consulate in 1921 and welcomed a constant stream of high-profile and compelling visitors. The Service 1921 has preserved and reinvented the sentiment of this colonial era in an eccentric and fictitious revival of the British government’s secret intelligence service. We spent the beginning of our evening fascinated and discussing the photos of enigmatic spies while sipping on cocktails concocted by the in-house mixologist. The drinks menu is extensive, and there is something for everyone on the list of these inspired creations, but I particularly recommend The British Consulate or Tea Time for a different and delicious aperitif. 

We continued upstairs to the restaurant, which did not disappoint with its dark, dramatic interiors, full of subtle twists and turns seducing us back into the Roaring 20s. We were treated to a jaunt in the Interrogation Room and found a secret door in the library wall leading to the private dining area, decorated with old-time filing cabinets and complex maps detailing the British colony. These features were so novel and fun and truly added an extra dimension to our evening. 

The menu at The Service 1921 is a beautiful blend of contemporary Thai, Chinese Sichuan and Vietnamese dishes, created by expert chefs from each region. It's obvious that the freshest, most fragrant ingredients are carefully selected, and we savoured every exquisite mouthful. I am often hesitant when such a variety of fare is offered and worry that the quality of the food may suffer, but this is absolutely not the case at The Service 1921. I can wholeheartedly recommend everything from the tender beef and pomelo salads to the butter chicken curry and the spicy pork dumplings. I must also give a shout-out to the unforgettable chicken satay, the Chinese roast duck and the beef massaman curry. Let's just say that these guys know how to do flawless fusion and execute it with precision. For added individuality, we washed the bountiful buffet down with a local Thai wine and a chat with the most cordial and accommodating staff that we encountered during our entire trip. 

After our incredible night, we knew that we wanted to return to the Anantara the following day and decided to indulge in the decadent afternoon tea, served riverside. We met with the pastry chef, as well as the executive chef (fresh off the plane from Peru!), who talked us through the sweet and savoury sensations on offer. We chose the perfect ending to the trip by relaxing in the lush greenery and sampling the refined crumbly pastries and boutique desserts, alongside crisp glasses of Prosecco. 

While I hope that I have done the resort and the restaurant justice, nothing could beat experiencing both for oneself. Thankfully, Chiang Mai is such a short flight from Hong Kong, and not only will I be returning on my next visit there, I might just have to plan my next trip around revisiting my new favourite hotel destination. If it sounds like I'm gushing about it, it's even better in reality: trust me!

The Service 1921 Restaurant & Bar, Anantara Chiang Mai, 123–123/1 Charoen Prathet Road, Changklan, Muang, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand, +66 53 253 333