Most of us find it a little bit surreal sleeping away from home as if something is just not quite right. This feeling can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Some people have a more stressful, anxious experience. In this article, we will reveal the expert tips on how to sleep well away from home. We have gathered these tips from seasoned travel experts and sleep specialists, so read on and make your next sleepover a good one.
Reasons people sleep away from home
That dream holiday or a visit to stay with friends, these are very positive reasons to sleep away from home. Some people travel for business on a regular basis and have to sleep away from home more frequently. Whether a friend’s sofa or a hotel bed, your temporary sleep area may take a few nights to get used to. No matter the reason you are sleeping away from home, there are tips, techniques and products that will help you have a good rest.
Sleep quality and health
Along with diet and exercise, getting enough sleep is critical to our health and well-being. In fact, sleep is so important that The National Sleep Foundation has created a recommended guideline, much like the food pyramid, that gives recommended sleep times according to age. The range of sleep allows for individual circumstances:
| Age Group | Recommended Sleep (Hours) |
| Older adults 65+ | 7-8 |
| Adults 26-64 | 7-9 |
| Young adults 18-25 | 7-9 |
| Teens 14-17 | 8-10 |
| School children 6-13 | 9-11 |
| Preschool children 3-5 | 10-13 |
| Toddlers 1-2 | 11-14 |
| Infants 4-11 months | 12-15 |
| Newborns 0-3 months | 14-17 |
People who do not get enough sleep suffer from a lack of alertness and memory problems. Your quality of life may suffer and your relationship may become stressed due to moodiness. Lack of sleep can contribute to severe health problems if it becomes chronic. So what can you do to make sure you get enough sleep, especially away from home?
Tip #1 – Make it a home-from-home
Bring some of your own bedtime things with you like your favourite pillow or a family picture. Familiar objects are going to create a calm, peaceful environment that will make you more relaxed and ready for sleep. Be sure to follow the same routine as you do at home before bed, including taking a shower or reading a book.
Do your research before booking a hotel to make sure it is not under renovation or having construction nearby. Ask to be in a quieter room if noise bothers you when you sleep. If you are staying with family or friends, have them let you know their sleep schedule before your stay so that you can plan ahead.
Tip #2 – Natural Remedies
Use lavender pillow spray to provide a relaxing, calming scent that will help you drift off to sleep. There are other natural aids for restful, calm sleep like Calm Me. This supplement from Gpnutrition.com not only calms your mind but soothes your body as well so that you can have a more restful sleep.
Try a white noise machine like this one, which features natural sounds, automatic timer function and a nightlight, which is helpful if you tend to become disoriented away from home. Chamomile tea is also excellent for calming you down after a stressful day of travel and preparing you for sleep. The more natural and organic the tea, the more potent the calming effect is, though tea bags work well also.
Tip #3 – Avoid sleep killers
Studies have shown that it takes your brain at least an hour to calm down after being on your tablet, phone or computer. Avoid these things near bedtime and you will experience a more restful sleep. That includes digital books, unfortunately, so go for the old-fashioned paper books to read before bed.
The bedside clock can also be a sleep killer, reminding you how much you aren’t sleeping every time you look at it. Turn the clock around to face the opposite way from you or hide it, whichever works best. Invest in a sleep mask to block out light distractions and earplugs to silence noisy elevators or other sounds.
We hope these top expert tips will make your next night away from home a good one. Above all, remember to follow your diet and exercise routine as closely as possible, even though you are travelling. Give yourself plenty of time to get a good, restful sleep, even if you have to go to bed earlier than normal and avoid big meals and too much alcohol before bed.
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