Eli5: how can a 14-15 hours flight trip can make you feel jet lagged but even a long 20 hours train journey doesn’t have the same effect?

Question

Is it because typically during these long flights there is a a change in multiple time zones and that messes your circadian rythm?

In: 541

Answer 1

Jet lag doesn’t have anything to do with travel. It’s the time zone change. If your body thinks it’s 3pm, but now you’re in a time zone where it’s 10pm, it’s going to be hard to fall asleep because your body is saying “it’s not 10pm bedtime, it’s 3pm party time!”. It takes some days to adjust to the new time zone. That’s all jet lag is.