Your body clock is set by light. Exposing yourself to bright light at the right times — and avoiding it at others — shifts your circadian rhythm toward your destination's timezone.
Beginning your adjustment 2–5 days before departure means you arrive already partially synced — dramatically reducing the days of grogginess after landing.
Flying east (losing hours) requires advancing your clock — seek morning light. Flying west (gaining hours) requires delaying it — seek evening light. Lagged calculates this automatically.
Based on research by Eastman & Burgess (2009), as recommended by the CDC.