Decoding Jet Lag! Why Nene Royal Felt So Exhausted After Intercontinental Flight and How to Cope

It became both a dramatic and sympathetic scene when "Nene Royal," the first Thai champion of America's Got Talent (AGT), returned to Thailand looking exhausted and worn out, yet faced online criticism from some Thai netizens calling her "arrogant after fame," "out of touch," and asking "why she wasn't smiling."

The drowsiness, cognitive fog, and fatigue after such intercontinental travel are not just ordinary tiredness but a natural bodily response known as Jet Lag or time zone sickness.

Why does flying across continents cause the body's internal clock to "misalign"?

Jet Lag is a condition where the body's biological clock is out of sync with the local time of the destination. For example, the time difference between the United States and Thailand can be as much as 11 to 14 hours, causing the hypothalamus—the brain area controlling melatonin hormone secretion—to become confused about when to sleep and when to be awake.

When traveling across continents, the body naturally reacts with the following symptoms:

• Difficulty sleeping at night. Feeling alert at times when you should be sleeping in Thailand.
• Severe daytime drowsiness. Slow mental processing, forgetfulness, and clouded thinking.
• Disrupted digestive system. Bloating, constipation, or hunger at inappropriate times.
• Accumulated fatigue and irritability. Caused by increased secretion of the stress hormone cortisol.

Dos and Don'ts when coping with Jet Lag.

Five ways to recover from Jet Lag faster.

1. Use sunlight to help reset your internal clock. When traveling from west to east (e.g., America to Thailand), morning sunlight exposure helps signal the brain to adjust its timing more quickly.
2. Adjust your sleep schedule in advance. Two to three days before traveling.You should adapt your body.By going to bed and waking up 1–2 hours earlier or later daily, depending on the direction of your destination.
3. Stay well hydrated. The cabin air on planes is drier than normal, leading to dehydration and worsening Jet Lag. Drinking water throughout the journey is therefore essential.
4. Avoid unnecessary sleeping pills. Though they may help you sleep on the plane, sleeping pills do not help reset your biological clock and can leave you feeling groggier upon waking.
5. Include protein-rich foods at breakfast. Eating eggs or nuts in the morning boosts energy, while focusing on complex carbohydrates at dinner helps promote better sleep.

The fatigue from Jet Lag experienced by "Nene Royal" and many travelers is a natural bodily process that requires an average adjustment of 1–1.5 hours per time zone crossed. By understanding the internal clock mechanism, managing diet and sleep, and getting appropriate sunlight exposure, the body can recover quickly and be ready to work effectively.