Travel
Sleep Soundly AnywhereYou know those people who brag that they can sleep anywhere? You’re not one of them, you say? If you don’t effortlessly fall into a blissful slumber when you’re away from home, you’re not alone. Most people have difficulty sleeping in a new or unfamiliar place, even if it’s a luxury hotel.
There’s even a name for the “condition.” It’s optimistically called “First Night Effect” to imply that your sleep will improve after the first night away from home. Luckily, most travelers find this to be true.
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Tips for better sleep away from home |
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Try to revisit hotels you like, even stay in the same room, says Dr. Breus. |
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Request a room away from the street, light sources, elevators, ice machine, restaurant and any other potential disturbances. |
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Create a traveler's survival kit, advises Dr. Breus. Your kit can include items to help you sleep such as earplugs, eye mask, your favorite music and aromatherapy. |
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Follow your regular nighttime routine. If you usually read before going to sleep, bring a book. If you usually take a hot shower, do so. Relax and give your body all the usual clues that bedtime is approaching. |
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Check the thermostat to make sure the room will not get too hot or cold.Temperatures above 75 and below 54 degrees Fahrenheit will awaken most people. |
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Request two wakeup calls, just in case you accidentally ignore the first one. This will help you sleep better by easing any anxiety about not getting up on time. |
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Maintain your exercise routine while you're away and try to eat healthy. |
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Have you also experienced trouble staying asleep when you’re traveling? There’s a name for that, too. It’s called “On-Call Effect.” This describes the inability to stay asleep because you’re anxiously awaiting the next day’s events.
Don’t forget the environmental challenges of sleeping away from home: noise from inside and outside the hotel, an unfamiliar room and bed, uncomfortable room temperature, even altitude and humidity levels.
Considering all the barriers to good sleep when we travel, it’s amazing we ever leave home! But of course there’s a whole world out there, and most of us want to see it. Recognizing our need to look and feel our best when we’re traveling, many hotels are introducing amenities to help us sleep better. When planning a trip, look for hotel with snooze-friendly features like blackout curtains, nightlights, high-quality mattresses and luxurious bedding. And don’t forget the steps below to help you maintain healthy sleep patterns wherever you may find yourself.