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Being well-rested on vacation is one of the best ways to ensure that your trip is enjoyable. Lack of sleep, whether due to jet lag, stress, unfamiliar surroundings, or just a packed schedule, can ruin a vacation extremely quickly, by making you grumpy, irritable, and unable to enjoy the exciting new sights and experiences you encounter.
Luckily, you don’t have to tolerate sleepless nights abroad! There are a number of tricks, techniques, hacks, and tools that you can use to help you find the rest and relaxation you need, even in the most uncomfortable surroundings.
So whether you are setting sail for a Bahamas cruise or jetting off to a tropical beach paradise, here are some simple tricks to ensure that you get a good night’s rest wherever you find yourself.
In This Post:
Prepare Your Sleep Patterns Beforehand
It might sound weird, but one of the best ways to deal with jet lag is to adjust your sleep before you travel. Start going to bed earlier (or later) in the week leading up to your vacation, and by the time you head off you will be that much closer to a normal sleep pattern for the timezone in your destination! If you can cut down the jet lag gap by even only a couple of hours it can make a big difference to your sleep.
Cut Down on the Booze
Vacations are a time to enjoy yourself, but alcohol can have a seriously negative impact on your sleep. Lots of people try to get to sleep on planes by having a drink, but this can actually have the opposite effect, leading to poor rest and meaning you struggle to get quality sleep hours. Avoid the booze, at least on the journey itself, and try to avoid overdoing it while on vacation full stop if you generally struggle to sleep when traveling.
Invest in Good Quality Sleep Masks and Ear Plugs
A good quality, comfortable sleep mask and proper, well-fitting ear plugs can make all the difference when you are trying to get some rest on the go, in noisy environments, or even just somewhere that is unfamiliar to you.
Consider Sleep Aids
Some people use sleeping pills and other medication to knock themselves out when traveling, particularly on long flights. While this may help initially, in general these kinds of powerful sleep aids can have a negative effect on sleep, causing nausea, headaches, and disrupting your natural sleep patterns. However, taking melatonin, a natural hormone supplement, can really make a big difference in overcoming jet lag and rebalancing your body clock.
Move Your Body
Exercise is a great way to shake off stress after a long trip, to rebalance your mind, and to tire yourself out a little to help you get to sleep. It is also a great way to start the day, to get rid of brain fog and get everything in full working order. Whether you want to wind down as it gets darker or wake yourself up with the sun, a little exercise is a great way to do it.
Bring a Travel Pillow
One of the simplest travel sleep hacks is also one of the best. A high-quality, comfortable travel pillow is one of the best ways to help you fall asleep anywhere you need to, at any time. Whether you are on a long-haul flight, a multi-hour bus trip, or just waiting for a connection, being able to rest your head on something comfortable can help you grab a quick nap or a serious snooze.
