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Whether you\u2019re headed to the beach, visiting family or even taking that bucket-list vacation \u2013 many of us will be hitting the road this summer. In fact, according to a survey from AAA, 35% of Americans plan to take a summer road trip. That\u2019s a lot of people sleeping in beds other than their own.<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether you are traveling for pleasure or business this summer, spending a night away from home can wreck a good night\u2019s sleep. You\u2019ve probably experienced it yourself: events and activities that altered your normal bedtime routine; unfamiliar places, noises or smells that left you tossing and turning, waiting to drift off; that next-day, groggy feeling you thought was just jet lag. It all adds up to make traveling feel downright tiresome.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a biological reason why many of us find it difficult to get a good night\u2019s sleep while away from home, regardless of how comfortable the accommodations may be.<\/p>\n
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, there is a sleep disorder called the first-night effect.<\/p>\n
Decades ago, sleep researchers discovered the first-night effect, finding that when we sleep in an unfamiliar space, our brains typically won\u2019t show the slow-wave activity that is associated with deep sleep. Scientists think this may be because our brains are subconsciously keeping some parts of themselves vigilant throughout the night, so we are better able to react to unusual activity or danger. Since our brains remain active, our sleep is easily interrupted, and any sleep we get isn\u2019t as restful or rejuvenating as it should be.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t let that keep you up at night! The good news is that this phenomenon seems to diminish when we spend a second night in the same space, hence the first-night effect moniker.<\/p>\n
Getting a good night\u2019s\u00a0sleep is important<\/a>\u00a0no matter where you rest your head. While there\u2019s no way to change how your brain has evolved to adapt to sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, there are a number of things you can do to sleep better while traveling.<\/p>\n Whether you stay in a high-rise hotel, a roadside bed-and-breakfast or in your best friend\u2019s guest room while on your summer vacation, follow these sleep and travel tips to get some rest when you spend your night away from home. With better sleep, you\u2019ll be able to enjoy your travels even more.<\/p>\n For more advice on improving your sleep while traveling, watch these tips from our resident sleep expert, Lissa Coffey.<\/p>\n\n