Our Crazy Airline Life
Safety First?
With all the talk about safety in the airline industry, I find it ironic that none of us across multiple airlines have ever been given access to this article by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Jet Lag - Not So Cool
The following very disturbing passage is from the book, Why We Sleep, by Dr. Matthew Walker.
“West or east, jet lag places a tortuous physiological strain on the brain, and a deep biological stress upon the cells, organs, and major systems of the body. And there are consequences. Scientists have studied airplane cabin crews who frequently fly on long-haul routes and have little chance to recover. Two alarming results have emerged. First, parts of their brains—specifically those related to learning and memory—had physically shrunk, suggesting the destruction of brain cells caused by the biological stress of time-zone travel. Second, their short-term memory was significantly impaired. They were considerably more forgetful than individuals of similar age and background who did not frequently travel through time zones. Other studies of pilots, cabin crew members, and shift workers have reported additionally disquieting consequences, including far higher rates of cancer and type 2 diabetes than the general population—or even carefully controlled match individuals who do not travel as much.”
Circadian Rhythm Reset
In 2018, I discovered what is called “grounding", a reconnection to the Earth and it’s direct current (DC current). I changed how I felt, how I hiked, and even how I slept. In short, it changed my life completely. Wanting to spend as much time as possible grounded, I started sleeping in a recovery sack created by Groundology for the Tour de France athletes. The difference in my sleep was incredible. I slept better, deeper, and woke up refreshed. Never wanting to sleep ungrounded again, I started taking my recovery sack with me on my trips and discovered something incredible.
Those of us living on the West coast can attest to the of dread flying an East coast AM trip, as we know heinous jet lag reigns supreme the next day. And there’s good reason. When waking up at 0300 E.S.T., our bodies KNOW it’s midnight back home and are confused with why we’re getting out of bed to start our day.
The first time I slept in my recovery sack on an East coast overnight, a curious thing happened. The DC current flowing from the outlet to my sack that night, not only brought healing to my tissues and mind while I was sleeping, but it reset my circadian rhythm at the same time. When I woke up at my usual grueling early hour the next morning, I actually felt refreshed, awake, and ready to start the day. It was astounding!
It's since never failed in all my years of flying. As a result, I’ve been convinced grounding “cures” jet lag, but I never found any research, other than my own, that I could point to. Until now . . .
In August 2025, The Journal of Medicine published an article by Dr. Laura Koniver on how grounding plays a “central role in regulating and maintaining circadian rhythms.” Read the article below to find out more.