From airbeds and cars to your mate’s floor, here’s how to crank up those ZZZs
We’ve all done it: shlepping across the country for yet another family wedding, jetting off on vacay to far-flung climes, an overseas business trip… Spending time snoozing on sofas, airbeds and in hotel rooms can affect your sleep. It’s not just a cricked neck that lets you know you’re not in your own bed – your subconscious knows, too. A study from Brown University found that on your first night in a new place, brain activity tends to rise as half of your brain is watching out for trouble. Travelling in itself – time-zone changes, middle seats – can also wreak havoc on the amount and quality of sleep you get, says Natalie Dautovich, scholar for the National Sleep Foundation in the US. And, believe us, you want those ZZZs: a night without enough can lead to poor decision-making, weight gain and acne. So, next trip, pack these strategies instead of all those extra shoes.
SLEEP WELL…
AT A HOTEL
Whether you’re at a five-star resort or a dodgy B&B, it can take two days to adjust to the smells, temperature and sounds of a new place, says clinical psychologist Michael Breus, author of The Power of When. The bed being the biggest obstacle. ‘Sleeping on a different mattress is like wearing new shoes – your body has to get used to it,’ he says. Cue these handy tips:
PLAY GOLDILOCKS
Bed too soft? Ask for a room with a smaller one. ‘The larger the mattress, the more likely it is to sag,’ says Breus. Bed too hard? Layer an extra blanket under the fitted sheet.
REDECORATE
This story is from the March 2018 edition of Cosmopolitan Australia.
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This story is from the March 2018 edition of Cosmopolitan Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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