Getting a Good Night’s Sleep On The Road
Traveling for work, visiting out of town family, or taking a vacation to a fun spot can all lead us to sleeping in a different place and time at night – affecting how well we can actually catch some zzz’s. Getting enough sleep is critical for overall function and health, and even though some people can sleep like babies when they’re away from home, many cannot – which can then lead to impairments of memory, an altered mood, and a decrease in energy, to name a few.
So, what can you do to get the best sleep possible when you’re not able to be at home in your own bed? Let’s take a look at four tips to improve your snooze!
Aromatherapy
Commonly known as being an effective treatment to help the body and mind relax and wind down, aromatherapy and corresponding essential oils are a great tool to incorporate into your bedtime routine to improve sleep quality! Studies have shown that certain oils promote sleep, which can be necessary when you aren’t sleeping at your own place! Getting a diffuser and putting some cedarwood or lavender oils inside to diffuse can help encourage shut eye.
Supplements
There are plenty of sleep aids out on the market today, and some of the more popular ones include magnesium, melatonin, and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). These supplements can be utilized daily as a part of your sleep routine to help relax and regulate sleep quality. Melatonin is made naturally by our bodies anyway, but taking an added supplement before bedtime has been shown to improve the quality of sleep even more.
White noise machine
If you’re struggling to fall asleep in a new environment or are kept awake by the sounds that you hear around you, a white noise machine might be your new friend! Used everywhere from baby nurseries to hospital rooms, these machines work by blocking noises that could be distracting, while also combining a large spectrum of noises together to formulate a “humming” sound – although you can get machines that make noises of the rainforest, birds chirping, and ocean waves, just to name a few.
Blackout curtains
Although not as easily available in some locations, blackout curtains are perfect for making the room you’re sleeping in as dark as possible. Our bodies are affected by light, and brightness typically signals to our brains that it’s time to get up. If there is too much ambient light in a room, it can be hard to fall asleep. Blackout curtains help to eliminate any light that might be in a room, therefore boosting melatonin production and making it easier to rest.
These are just a few of the ways that you can get the best night’s sleep possible when you’re away from home; whether you’re visiting friends, on a work trip, or just getting away for the weekend, utilize these tips to ensure a solid night of sleep and keep your mental and physical health up to par!
