Why Can’t You Sleep In A New Place?
You have been planning this trip for a while now and after a long tiring day, you hit the bed for a good night’s sleep. No matter what you do, you find yourself restless. Falling asleep is difficult, and you finally realise that you can’t sleep in new places. With no luck, you end up relying on the internet, and soon enough you are googling some tips to fall asleep. Well, let us help you. First and foremost, don’t get worked up or worried about why you can’t sleep in new places. There are plenty of others who have had the same condition. This is called the “first night effect”. Let us discuss this in detail:
Experts, when researching why people can’t fall asleep in new places, have found that your brain tends to be more vigilant when you are in a new environment, thus making it harder for you to fall asleep, and even if you do, you end up sleeping light. So now that you know why you can’t sleep in new places, What are the tips to falling asleep?
Sleep Schedule
The best way to sleep is to follow a strict sleep regimen. No matter the place, ensure you adhere to a specific time to hit the rack. This is the first tip for sleeping. Say, you are travelling to another time zone. If you are a person who lacks discipline, the initial few days are going to be hard. It’s common knowledge that a good night’s sleep means a constructive day. If you can’t get any sleep in the new place and wake up on the wrong side, you could end up spoiling the whole day. The second tip for good sleep is to avoid afternoon naps if you are a nap person. Sleeping during the day is only going to make it more difficult at night.
Environment Control
External factors such as light, sound, and temperature can all be driving factors for a night of poor sleep. The third tip to fall asleep– dim your room lights and keep those electronics away. Television and phones are major distractions, If you think you can’t sleep in new places and rely on those reels and videos to divert yourself, well, you are off to a very bad day. Here is the best way to fall asleep, ensure to shut out all lights before bed, control the temperature of the room to your comfort, and silence your phone for no distractions.
Find your comfort
Even the smallest factor, such as a change in the pillow, can cause discomfort and result in bad sleep. If you can’t sleep in a new place, here are some tips to fall asleep. Use a sleep mask to block out any unwanted light. Dip yourself in a warm bath before you hit the bed. This calms your body and mind. Destress yourself with some soothing music. Make sure you don’t go to bed hungry. Have a good meal an hour or two before bedtime. If you are travelling, ensure that you select a room that you find pleasing, and that suits your taste, this can have a drastic effect on your sleep cycle. The more you like your room, the better your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.
Work that Body out
Can’t you sleep in a new place? Have you tried working out? How about some breathing exercises? No? Well, the best way to fall asleep is to have some good exercise, no matter where you travel. A good workout can help you fall asleep faster, and if you don’t find that helpful, practise some breathing techniques. These are some of the go-to tips for sleeping soundly. Relaxing the mind and body is the key. If you learn to do that, then no matter where you are, you will have a peaceful sleep.
Cut down on Caffeine
Keep away from caffeinated drinks, and when we say “caffeine,” it means in all forms. Be it coffee, tea, alcohol, soda, etc. All these drinks have the reputation of keeping your brain active, which in turn leads to a sleepless night. The best way to sleep well is to sip on some warm water, this is one of the classic tips followed for a good sleep.
Listen/Read
If none of the above tips helps you fall asleep; then here is the best possible way; listen to a good podcast or try reading a book. Previously, we had asked you to lay off those gadgets, but for some people, listening to a story or calm, soothing music with their eyes closed can help them sleep better in a new environment. If that’s not your cup of tea and if you think you can’t sleep in new places with a podcast in the background, then get your hands on a book.
Above are some answers to why you can’t fall asleep in new places. From factors such as climate, stress, and travel to even the smallest of things, such as the aroma of a room, can cause disruptions in your sleeping pattern. A good environment that makes you feel safe and secure matters a lot when it is your first time at an entirely new location. Convert your room to reflect your tastes and follow the above tips for a good night’s sleep. Still, have some more tips for sleeping to share that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
