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The best preparation for jet lag is to not believe in it.
Yeah, I know, drink lots of water, eat light, don’t drink alcohol, etc. For my first visit to Argentina, I asked my doctor for Ambien for the overnight flight. She consented and wrote me a script for two pills. Two? Yes, she said, one for flying out and one for flying back. But suppose I drop one. Well, don’t, she said. Most night flights depart after 8 pm so I just get on the plane and read until food is served, watch a movie and at 10:30, I pop an Ambien and sleep until someone shakes me awake. Having a neck rest helps.
For my first destination, Windhoek, Namibia, I depart Dulles at 10 pm and land in Frankfurt at 6 am my body time, noon, Frankfurt time. I have all day to walk about, maybe even take a short tour of that city before I fly out at 9 pm, 3 am my body time. Hopefully, we can board at 7 pm and I can take another Ambien immediately and sleep the 11 hour flight to Johannesburg, arriving at 8:30 the next morning. Only one hour time change from Germany so I expect to be jet lag free when I change planes for my final leg to Windhoek.
I don’t know yet what my position is on jet lag, but this trip might make me a believer!