Stepping out of my hostel and onto the city streets, my mind flooded with confused, rambling thoughts I couldn’t quite articulate or ascertain. After more than 17 hours in the air and 30-something hours without sleep, I had fallen prey to that awful monster called Jet Lag. I looked upon the signs written in Hiragana, contemplating if I should walk to the left or right, and if it really mattered. Neon signs pulsed in reds, yellows, pinks, and greens, competing for my culture-shocked, suddenly ADD-infused brain’s attention. I questioned whether the people, buildings, and visions that surrounded me were simply a figment of my imagination. Was I really in Tokyo, Japan?

It was the year 2007 and I had passed through a faltered transition of time zones. I had traveled 16 hours into the future, but this was not far enough. Nothing at that time could have prepared me for the worst jet lag I had yet experienced. No amount of sleeping pills, timed rest, gallons of water, tablets of Airborne, or magical spells could have helped me. And so I continued, one foot in front of another, with a sloth-like desire to explore the first non-Spanish speaking country I’d ever set foot in.

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If I’d traveled further into the future- say, 2015, I would have found myself running through Barcelona El Prat Airport, about 40-50 pounds divided between the backpack on my back and the one on my front, kangaroo-style. It was 9:15am, I had only slept three hours the previous night, and failed to eat breakfast, but I had a plane to catch. The boarding gates would close at 9:20am and I had no idea how much farther I had yet to run. I’m no longer much of an athlete, but I’m still one determined woman. I would get to Porto, Portugal that morning.

And you know what? I did. Not only did I make my plane, eventually admiring the aerial view of Rio Douro from my window seat, but I also arrived in Porto ready to go. I dropped off my backpacks at Alma Porto Hostel and hit the pavement, alert, and excited to explore another country. I didn´t even take a nap. (What?!)

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So what was the difference between these two experiences? Granted, the flight from San Francisco to Tokyo is much longer than the one from Barcelona to Porto. Nonetheless, these are two examples of extreme experiences I’ve had while traveling. When I went to Tokyo, I did everything I was supposed to in order to avoid jet lag, and still ended up a mess. Going to Porto, I had only prepared myself in one way. If you think about it- with the many long days of TBEX I’d experienced, being on the go for weeks beforehand, and the lack of sleep I’d incurred, I should have missed that plane. If one thing had been amiss, I surely would have.

What I did differently was take a tablet of 1Above the night before my flight, and one the morning of. I didn’t even drink coffee that morning, but I still had energy- and if you know me, you know that I’m not a morning person.

Not only is the 1Above company run by some amazing people I had the chance to meet at TBEX, it is also one that offers a product that truly works. For someone who is addicted to travel like I am, this drink is now high on my list of travel essentials. Its active ingredient, Pycnogel, is a natural pine bark extract, is combined with electrolytes, six B vitamins, and vitamin C. The Pycnogenol in 1Above has been clinically proven to reduce jet lagup to 53.8% in longetivity and 61.5% in intensity. Basically, when you take this drink, you’ll only have to deal with mild effects of jet lag for 18 hours instead of almost 40 hours, which you would regularly experience.

Aside from fighting jet lag, the combination of ingredients in 1Above also help improve body circulation, boost your immunity system (ever gotten sick after a flight?), and increase your energy. It leaves you feeling like you want to conquer the world after you step off of the plane, as opposed to hiding in your hotel room for two days. And who has time for that?

Even though I’m on the road a ton more than many of my friends, family, and colleagues from the United States, this product is especially important for those who only get an average of one work week off for vacation. (For those of you not from the USA- yes, this is the amount of time we get per year to take a break from work.) When you have seven days free to wander the world, you don’t want to waste two of them feeling miserable. Right? Using 1Above will help you make the most of your precious time, and there’s nothing more genius than that.

In just a few days, I will be headed off to California from Barcelona, Spain. Although I am sad to leave Europe, I am excited to try 1Above on a lengthy flight. I have no doubt that I will arrive ready to gather with friends and family, telling them of the many adventures I’ve had these last two months. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes!

If you’d like to know more about 1Above, please visit their website here.

You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Have you tried 1Above? What was your experience? Are there any benefits I have forgotten to mention? I look forward to reading your comments!