{"id":901,"date":"2020-12-20T15:13:47","date_gmt":"2020-12-20T07:13:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepmattersperth.com.au\/?p=901"},"modified":"2021-04-25T15:57:33","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T07:57:33","slug":"tips-for-sleeping-well-when-youre-away-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepmattersperth.com.au\/tips-for-sleeping-well-when-youre-away-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for sleeping well when you’re away from home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Jakub Dammer, Clinical Psychologist (registrar)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australians love to travel during the holidays and the thought of seeing new places and being away from home can be exciting. Many of us are able to travel now that COVID restrictions are lifting. However, for some, travel can prompt concerns about trying to get to sleep in an unfamiliar environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever had difficulty falling asleep in a hotel room or in a tent while camping; you are not alone. Sleep researchers have found that people often report the first night in a new place tends to be more restless and have labelled this the \u2018first night effect\u2019. This can be observed in campers, hotel guests, staying with friends, workers on Fly-In-Fly-Out schedules or attending a conference, and even those spending the first night in a new house. In fact, if you\u2019ve ever had a multiple-night sleep study done, it\u2019s entirely possible the sleep physician discarded the data from the first night due to the \u2018first night effect\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is going on? One answer comes from neuroimaging studies that find that during the first night in a new location the left hemisphere of our brain will be more active in order to monitor unfamiliar surroundings for potential threats. We can also see this sleep disturbance as the consequence of being away from familiar sleep cues \u2013 the ceiling fan set to just the right level, or the sounds of the dishwasher dutifully making sloshing noises in the darkened kitchen \u2013 all of which signal to the mind and body this is night time, time to sleep<\/em>. Instead, we might have different sounds such as crickets chirping outside our tent or traffic honking beneath our hotel window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that neuroimaging studies also find the left hemisphere tends to reduce activity to normal by the second night and there are steps that can be taken to improve disrupted sleep even in the presence of unfamiliar chirping or muffled honking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you find that your sleep is often disturbed on the first night somewhere new:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, try to remind yourself \u2013 this is normal, my brain is a little more alert because it\u2019s on the lookout, this bed will feel more familiar tomorrow night.<\/em> Consciously bringing this thought to your awareness may reduce the impact of emotions like anxiety and frustration that are not conducive to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, take note of how you\u2019re interpreting your environment. See this article on our blog for further information. It discusses how altering your interpretation of environmental noise (in this case snoring) can help you get used to it. [https:\/\/www.sleepmattersperth.com.au\/partner-snoring] and similar principles can be applied to chirping and honking. (NB: if your partner snores, discussion with a GP may be appropriate).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thirdly, take solace in the fact that lost sleep builds biological sleep pressure. Sleep pressure is a bit like \u2018hunger\u2019 for sleep and it helps you to sleep well. If your first night in a new place does indeed result in a shorter sleep, there will be an increased sleep pressure on the following night and the body tends to quickly catch up. Even if you do feel a little sleepier on the day following a \u2018first night effect\u2019 sleep, try to fully engage in the following day (no napping) so that when bedtime rolls around again the sleep drive is high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, take reasonable practical measures to make the sleep environment more familiar. You probably can\u2019t replicate your bedroom entirely, but little things like wearing your favourite pyjamas, bringing your own pillowcase, or engaging in a similar wind down routine can make the transition that little bit more seamless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself concerned about sleep for an upcoming trip, these suggestions \u2013 paired with the realistic sleep expectations informed by the \u2018first night effect\u2019 – can help you transition into restful sleep when travelling for work or pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re traveling these holidays we wish you a happy, safe and restful time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by Jakub Dammer<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jakub Dammer, Clinical Psychologist (registrar) Australians love to travel during the holidays and the thought of seeing new places and being away from home can be exciting. Many of us are able to travel now that COVID restrictions are lifting. However, for some, travel can prompt concerns about trying to get to sleep in an unfamiliar environment. If you\u2019ve ever … <\/p>\n

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