A Long Island resident is determined to eliminate jet lag, harnessing technology that even elite teams like England and France use to maintain their stamina during the World Cup.
Mickey Beyer Clausen, who grew up in a family connected to aviation, created the Timeshifter app. It’s designed for travelers to easily input their sleep preferences, adjusting to different time zones while offering advice on when to sleep, take a nap, or enjoy some caffeine.
“Switching time zones always leaves my body feeling out of sync,” Beyer Clausen mentioned about his own struggles with jet lag.
He believes much of the common advice around diet and hydration is, well, pretty ineffective when it comes to tackling jet lag.
“Simply sleeping won’t solve the problem,” he states, challenging the typical remedies. Having been born in a small fishing village near Copenhagen, Beyer Clausen emphasizes that there’s no solid scientific backing for many widely accepted solutions.
The app, launched in 2018, was co-founded with Dr. Stephen Lockley from Harvard Medical School, and it’s based on techniques used to help astronauts catch sleep in the International Space Station.
Its main focus? To help people know how much light or darkness they should be exposed to at specific times to keep their body clock on track.
“It’s the most effective way to help our bodies adapt quickly to new time zones,” he remarked.
He suggests that dark-tinted sunglasses should be a travel essential, allowing people to create a dark atmosphere even in bright environments like airplanes or indoors.
Moreover, Timeshifter customizes guidelines depending on users’ sleep habits and peak energy periods, known as their chronotype, even adjusting for shifting sleep times ahead of a trip.
Beyer Clausen acknowledges there’s no universal solution for jet lag; different chronotypes mean early risers are typically better off heading east, while night owls might prefer westward travel.
More than 150 employees at Lufthansa have found value in Timeshifter, leading to a collaboration between the airline and the app.
Recently, Nike has partnered to supply shoes to World Cup teams, including those from France, England, Brazil, Norway, and the Netherlands, as well as players on Team USA who compete on home turf.
Even teams from MLB, NBA, as well as top tennis athletes and Formula 1 racers, are increasingly interested in Timeshifter’s capabilities for improving performance in their respective sports.
“When we collaborate with teams, they often want to know which games really matter to them,” Beyer Clausen explained.
“One can assess and say, ‘Based on your circadian rhythm, your chance of winning or losing is 74%.’”
With the backing of Nike for the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Timeshifter is set to attract even more attention—and revenue—as research continues to develop in sports science.
Beyer Clausen noted, “I can say that the revenue I projected for concierge services for athletes was actually met back in January of this year.”
