Contents:
- Medical Video: How To Treat Insomnia Naturally Without Medication Fix Sleeping Problems | Best Way To Sleep Better
- Why can't you sleep in a new place?
- The more you travel, the easier you will be to sleep in a new place
- How to sleep better in a new place
Medical Video: How To Treat Insomnia Naturally Without Medication Fix Sleeping Problems | Best Way To Sleep Better
You are on vacation outside the city and have to stay in a hotel or at a relative's house. Unfortunately, on the first night of your stay, you can't sleep even though your body is tired. Ever experienced this? Relax, you are not alone.
Researchers have observed this unique phenomenon, where a person usually cannot sleep in a new place. This phenomenon is also often referred to first night effect or the effect of the first night. Why can it happen and how to overcome it? Here's the full review.
Why can't you sleep in a new place?
According to a study in the journal Current Biology in 2016, when you are in a new place, your brain will stay awake. Even when you try to sleep though.
In this study, experts from Brown University in the United States monitored the brain activity of participants who were asked to sleep in the laboratory. On the first night, apparently the left brain of the participants who were sleeping still remained active and reacted to the sounds around them.
Compared to the right brain, the left side of the brain has a more important role in guarding and detecting threats. This is why you will more easily wake up when you hear voices from your left ear.
Your left brain will indeed be more alert when in a new place. This is because sleeping in a strange place makes you worry about unexpected things. For example room temperature or a different sleeping position. To protect yourself from threats, your left brain will be on guard as long as you sleep.
Being in a new place, whether because it's on vacation or because of work, can also increase your stress levels. This can also make you more anxious and unable to sleep.
Even a study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research revealed that first night effect this can last for more than one night. So you don't need to worry too much if you can't sleep well the second night. Your brain still needs to adapt to the new environment.
The more you travel, the easier you will be to sleep in a new place
Don't get me wrong, there are also people who can even sleep soundly in a new place. If you are the type of person who easily sleeps in a new place, you may have traveled frequently and stayed at a hotel or friend's house.
According to experts from Brown University, the human brain is a body organ that is quite flexible. If you have often slept in a new place, the brain will not be too anxious and alert anymore.
The reason is, you have to sleep several times in a new place and it turns out there is no threat whatsoever. You can also relax and sleep well even though you are in a strange place.
How to sleep better in a new place
If you often can't sleep while staying in a new place, there are several ways you can do it. Check out the following tips.
- Take a warm bath before bed. This will help you be more comfortable. However, make sure you don't get hot during sleep. So, set the room temperature to be quite cool.
- Don't play cellphones before going to bed. Try to turn off all your electronic devices about 90 minutes before bedtime. Light and flashing lights from smartphone You will make the brain more alert and difficult to rest.
- Bring pillows or blankets from home. If possible, bring a pillow or blanket from home when staying in a new place. The aroma and texture of the fabric can "fool" the brain as if you were sleeping in your own home.
- Use earplug (ear plug). So you don't wake up easily because of the sounds around, use earplugs when you sleep.
