Travel Is Great. Jet Lag Is Not

The Time Change That Still Makes No Sense

Like I mentioned before, we were heading back from Korea last week, wrapping up our anniversary trip.

We left on Sunday… and landed on Sunday.

I understand how time zones work, but it still feels strange every time. It is like you lost a full day on the way there, and then somehow get it back on the way home, but you are not really sure where it went or why you feel so off.

It is one of those things that never quite feels normal, no matter how many times you do it.

The Flight Problem That Has Not Been Solved

The biggest issue for me is still the same. I cannot sleep on planes anymore.

I have tried all the usual tricks. Different seats, different positions, trying to stay up before the flight, trying to rest before the flight, nothing has really worked.

When I was younger, it was easy. I would fall asleep right after takeoff and wake up when we landed. That is not the case anymore.

This time was no different. I was awake the entire flight. By the time everything was done, I had been up for something like 30 to 36 hours straight.

It is not just being tired at that point. It is a different kind of exhaustion. You feel slow, your focus is off, and everything takes more effort than it should.

That is easily the hardest part of the trip.

Walking Back Into a Full Week

We got back Sunday and went straight into a catch up week.

That is the reality of being gone for two weeks. Things do not stop. Emails, calls, projects, everything is still moving.

So Monday hits, and you are trying to jump right back in while your body still thinks it is on a completely different schedule.

It is not ideal, but it is part of it.

At the same time, there is something nice about being back in your own space. Even simple things feel a little better after being gone that long.

Noticing the Little Things Again

After being away, you start to notice small details that you normally overlook.

The courtyard at our place, for example. It is something we see all the time, but after being gone, it stood out more.

Or something as simple as grabbing a Taco Bell at the airport before heading home. It was the only Taco Bell we saw the entire trip, which somehow made it feel like more of an event than it should have been.

It is funny what stands out when you come back.

Helping Out the Next Generation

During the week, my nephew reached out for help with mock trial work he is doing.

He is getting into it at a younger age, which is great to see. He sent over some questions, and I was able to give him feedback and help him think through a few things.

It was a nice break from everything else going on. Getting to slow down and focus on that for a bit.

It is always interesting seeing someone start to learn those skills early.

Designing While Half Asleep

At the same time, me and Holly are still working on designing parts of our house.

So even while dealing with jet lag, we were taking pictures of things we liked and sending them over to the architect.

One of those things is a pocket door we have that covers the pantry. It is one of those features that you forget is there most of the time because it stays open.

But when you close it, it just looks clean. Simple, functional, and it hides everything behind it.

We keep coming back to that idea. Clean, simple features that make a difference without being overcomplicated.

Planning for the Future at Home

Sam has also been thinking ahead.

He is really into comics right now, and he asked about creating a dedicated space for that in the new house.

So we started looking at some of the cabinets and storage we already have, taking pictures, and sending those over as well.

It is not something we need right away, but it is one of those ideas that is fun to plan out.

You can already picture how it might look once everything comes together.

Jet Lag That Just Will Not Go Away

The biggest challenge all week has been sleep.

It has been about a week now, and it still has not fully corrected itself. Most nights look the same.

Fall asleep around 10. Wake up around 2. Then see what happens.

Some nights we can get back to sleep after a while. Other nights, we are just up.

One night we both woke up at 2, watched TV for a couple hours, then went back to sleep. Another night I was up the rest of the night. Then the next night, it flipped.

It has been inconsistent, and that is what makes it harder. There is no rhythm to it.

When you are running on that kind of sleep, everything feels a little heavier. It is harder to focus, harder to stay energized, and even small tasks feel like they take more effort.

Taking a Step Back for the Weekend

By the time the weekend hit, it was clear we needed to step away from the normal routine for a bit.

We had an aunt and uncle day planned with our niece and nephew, and it ended up being a perfect reset.

Holly took our niece, and I took my nephew, and we went to the Ren Faire separately so we could each spend one on one time with them.

That part was intentional, and it worked out really well.

A Full Day at the Ren Faire

We got there in the morning and stayed through lunch.

We did all the classic Ren Faire activities. Threw some stars, threw tomatoes at the tomato man, and tried the strength game with the sledgehammer.

It is simple stuff, but it is fun. Especially when you are there with kids who are into it.

We ended up leaving a little early because my nephew had a hockey game we needed to get back for, but we still had a solid few hours there.

Holly and my niece stayed a bit longer, so it worked out for everyone.

Getting Back Into Planning Mode

Now that things are starting to settle down a bit, it is back to planning ahead.

I am working on travel for Q2 and starting to look into early Q3.

One thing I still rely on is a physical calendar. A full year laid out on one sheet.

It just works better for me. You can see everything at once. Trips, commitments, how things overlap. It is easier to visualize than trying to scroll through something digital.

So I have been mapping things out between now and June, trying to get a clear picture of what is coming up.

The Adjustment Period Nobody Talks About

The trip itself was great. That part is easy.

What people do not always talk about is the adjustment after you get back.

The jet lag, the lack of sleep, and trying to jump straight back into work and normal life. It takes time.

It is not instant, and it is not always smooth.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a great trip. One we are glad we took.

But coming back has been its own challenge. The sleep schedule is still off, energy is still catching up, and we are still working our way back into a normal routine.

Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, we will be fully back on track.

But if not, we are getting there.

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