When you travel, you might find yourself falling a bit behind on your sleep schedule. Working or school schedules might stand in the way of your usual bedtimes. So when you’re on the road, you might find yourself struggling to catch up on the sleep you missed. But you don’t have to do this alone! Here’s how you can get back on track and sleep well when you’re away from home.
Bring a Sleep Mask With You
When you travel, it’s easy to fall out of routine and forget to schedule a bedtime. Even if you’re trying to stay up later, it’s still easy to knock yourself out later than your usual bedtime.
One quick way to fall back into your sleep schedule is to bring a sleep mask with you. Sleep masks are especially helpful when you’re travelling and trying to adjust your schedule to fit your new time zone.
Worried that you might look a bit silly while you’re trying to sleep? Don’t be! Sleeping masks come in all different kinds of styles and colours and there is a style or design to suit everyone.
Get a Noise Machine
Noise machines can be a great way to relax and unwind when you’re trying to get better sleep while travelling. If you find yourself struggling to unwind at the end of the day, you can use a noise machine to help relax your brain and get sleepy faster.
Some noise machines have music playlists you can choose from, or you can program in relaxing sounds. If you like to travel light, you can also download apps to relax your brain with sound without bringing a lot of extra equipment.
If you’re travelling abroad, it’s helpful to bring along your noise machine so you can relax and unwind when it’s hard to do so at home. If you’re in a new time zone, it’s also helpful to relax and unwind with your own music playlist.
Stay Hydrated
Even if you are travelling for a short amount of time, it’s important to stay hydrated to help your body stay healthy. You don’t want to make it harder on yourself by not drinking enough water, which can lead to low energy and headaches.
Drink a glass of regular water before bed (regardless of where that bed may be) so you’re ready to go to sleep without being awoken by your body’s desire for liquids, ensuring a deeper and better night’s sleep.
Eat Before You Go to Sleep
Eating a small meal before bed can help you get better sleep and stay hydrated at the same time. It can also help improve your energy levels, making it easier to unwind with your family and friends while you’re travelling.
Some people like to eat a light dinner before they go to sleep, but you don’t have to eat a heavy meal unless it is part of a traditional routine. You can also try eating a small snack before you go to bed. It’s helpful to think about what you normally do before bed and make sure to include that activity in your bedtime routine.
Keep Warm
While travelling, it’s important to stay at a temperature that is not too hot nor too cold where possible. This helps to raise your body temperature, which can help to make you feel more sleepy. Consider a travel blanket that will help you stay warm and comforted while you sleep.
It’s important not to get too warm, you don’t want to be awoken mid-slumber sweating as this will interfere with your quest for a deep and restful sleep.
Don’t Overdo Your Electronics
Electronics can be one of the hardest things to ignore while you’re travelling. Even if you try to stay away from them, you might still find it hard to resist looking at your phone when you should be getting better sleep.
Don’t overdo it and make sure you’re keeping up with your regular sleep schedule. You don’t want to fall too far behind and have to struggle to catch up on the sleep you’re missing.
Bottom Line
Travelling across time zones can be tough, but it’s important to keep yourself as cool as possible and stay hydrated. Try to eat a small meal before bed and stay as hydrated as possible by drinking water throughout the day and staying in the shade. A combination of these handy tips will ensure you get the most out of sleep while travelling anywhere in the world.
