Traveling to new places can feel like a non-stop adventure. With the exciting new venues and brand-new restaurants, it can be difficult to find time to stop and rest. That makes it even more challenging when we finally sink into our hotel beds, only to find ourselves tossing and turning all night.
Fortunately, these tips for getting to sleep when you’re away from home will help you get the rest you need while traveling.
Establish a Wind-Down Routine
One of the reasons it’s so difficult to get to sleep while we’re traveling is that we’re simply overstimulated by all the sights and sounds of the day. We may also feel bogged down with thoughts of the logistics of our trip.
If this is the case, one of the best ways to get to sleep when you’re away from home is to be intentional about winding down at the end of every day. For instance:
- Put electronics away 30 minutes before bed
- Take a shower and wash your face
- Meditate
- Stretch or do yoga
- If it’s available at your hotel or resort, get a massage
Bring a Piece of Home With You
When we are in an unfamiliar place, our minds naturally go on high alert. As such, it can be difficult to “shut down” enough to fall asleep. But we can trick our minds into being more at ease by introducing familiar sights and sounds. A few ways to do this include:
- Sleeping with a pillow or blanket from home.
- Bringing candles or essential oils from home.
- Putting on familiar music or a favorite TV show.
- Drinking a familiar tea or bedtime beverage.
Bring Sleep Aids
When all else fails, you can always use additional resources to help you sleep when you’re away from home. Before you board your plane, invest in a few of these tools:
- Sleep mask
- Earplugs
- Sleep spray
- Weighted blankets
- Melatonin supplements
Pro Tip: Consider Climate
Keep in mind that the climate you’re traveling in may be partially responsible for your sleep troubles. For example, if you’re from a northern climate and are traveling to a tropical area in the middle of May, staying cool at night will be the key to falling asleep.
Featured Photo by Hamza Bounaim on Unsplash
