Jet Lag Who? How to Reset After Greece Without Feeling Like a Zombie

Returning from Greece to Australia can leave your body clock completely out of sync. The fastest way to recover from jet lag is to manage your landing strategy, get direct sunlight, move your body, eat on local time, and avoid naps. These proven jet lag tips will help you reset your sleep schedule and feel normal again within 48 hours.

You’re back home (like that isn’t bad enough) and now you’re wide awake at 3 am, wishing you never left Greece. Your mates are sending “welcome back” texts while you’re lying there wondering if it’s socially acceptable to eat leftover moussaka in the dark. The time difference from Greece to Australia is savage. Your body clock is in full rebellion and still thinks you’re wandering the Plaka looking for a midnight souvlaki. But here’s the good news: you can beat jet lag after Greece faster than you think. Here’s how.

Know your landing time strategy

The number one trick for beating jet lag from Europe to Australia is timing. If you land at night, lucky you. Go home, shower, and head straight to bed, no "just one episode" of Netflix. If you land during the day, sorry, you are not allowed to sleep. Drop your bags, change clothes, and get out of the house. The more daylight you get now, the faster you will recover.

Sunshine straight in your eyeballs

One of the fastest ways to recover from jet lag is to hit your eyes with natural light. Get outside within 30 minutes of waking or landing. Skip the sunnies for the first 15 minutes, your eyes need the direct signal that it is morning here. Even better, combine it with a walk so your body and brain both reset.

Smash in a beach walk

If you are coastal, sand, salt air, and sunlight are the perfect combo for adjusting sleep after overseas travel. No beach nearby? A park walk or neighbourhood loop works too. The goal is movement plus daylight, nature’s cure for post-travel fatigue.

Follow the one nap rule

If you want to fix your body clock after travel, you only get one nap on day one. Take it after lunch and keep it under 25 minutes. Multiple naps or couch crashes will keep you wired at night.

Eat on home time, not Greek time

Late-night taverna dinners are great on holiday, but they will keep your body clock stuck in Greece. Eat breakfast at local time, even if you are not that hungry. Stick to home lunch and dinner hours. If the midnight munchies hit, go for protein such as eggs, Greek yoghurt, or nuts instead of carbs that will spike and crash.

Sleep-promoting foods

What you eat can help you wind down faster. Include foods rich in tryptophan and magnesium to support melatonin production, like turkey, bananas, almonds, and oats. Herbal teas such as chamomile or valerian can also help prepare your body for sleep. Avoid heavy, rich meals and caffeine late in the day.

Avoid the couch

The couch is the enemy of jet lag recovery. Stay upright until your proper bedtime by unpacking, grocery shopping, or doing literally anything. If you are fading, leave the house entirely.

Use melatonin wisely

Melatonin can be a helpful tool for resetting your sleep schedule after holiday travel. Take a small dose one hour before your intended bedtime for two to three nights after returning. Avoid using it during the day or for naps, as it can confuse your body clock.

Go dark when it’s night

Your brain needs a strong night signal to help reset your sleep schedule after holiday travel. Dim the lights an hour before bed and avoid screens blasting blue light. Combine this with your melatonin routine or sleep-promoting foods for the best results.

Bottom line

Post-Greece jet lag is not fun, but you can crush it if you commit to the first 48 hours. Hit the sunlight, move your body, eat on local time, avoid naps, choose sleep-supportive foods, and make your nights really feel like nights. Do that and you will be back on Aussie time faster than you can say "koulouri".