5 Tips for Sleeping Well in a Hotel
- Keep it Quiet
- Make it Home Away From Home
- Keep it Dark
- Get Rid of Technology
- Keep With Your Routine
Getting a good night of sleep while staying in a hotel room can be a real battle. While some people love staying in hotels because it’s something out of the ordinary that gets them away from home, others dread staying in a hotel because they have difficulty sleeping in hotels or anyplace away from home. All is not lost, however, because there are some things a person can do to improve their chances of getting sleep. Here are five tips for getting a great night of sleep in a hotel room.
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Keep it Quiet
Even if we fall asleep at home with the television blaring or kids screaming, our bodies sleep best in a quiet environment. The idea of keeping it quiet while in a hotel room in a strange city, especially a large city, may seem impossible, but it’s very possible. First of all, buy a set of earplugs. When making a hotel reservation, people should ask for rooms on higher floors but not near the elevators. We may think certain things don’t make a lot of noise until we’re actually trying to sleep. For instance, a room near the ice machine, the front door or housekeeping’s room will bring about additional noise. That beautiful view you were so wild about during the day can also create unnecessary light at night.
Make it a Home Away From Home
The main reason people often have difficulty sleeping in hotel rooms is that they’re not at home and in their own beds. An individual may not be able to bring this bed along, but there is nothing stopping the person from bringing his or her pillow or pillowcase to the hotel. Sometimes, something as simple as the scent of the person’s fabric softener can make a big difference in getting a good night’s sleep. Additionally, people should ask for a room that has the same size bed they’re used to sleeping in at home.
Keep it Dark
Whether a person falls asleep on the couch in a well-lit room every night or not, we all sleep best in the dark. Hotel rooms are not always as darks as we’d like them to be. Have you ever noticed how even when you think you have the blinds closed, they’re not closed completely? That little bit of light escaping can really disrupt a good night’s sleep, Sleep.org recommends packing a bag with a blindfold and clothespins to help keep the drapes closed. Another recommendation is putting a folded bath towel by the bottom of the door to keep light from the hallway from coming into the room.
Get Rid of Technology
So many people go to bed with their technology by their side, whether it’s televisions, tablets or smartphones. These people probably don’t get that good of a night’s sleep in their home much less in a strange hotel room. When it’s time for bed, all technology should be shut down, including cell phones. If anyone really needs to get in touch with the person staying in the hotel, they can use the hotel’s front desk to relay a message.
Keep With Your Routine
Although many of us don’t want to admit it, we’re all creatures of habit in one way or another. We like things the same, and things should be kept the same when people are in a hotel room hoping for a good night’s rest. Whether it’s drinking a cup of tea before bed, doing aerobics or reading a bedtime story to children, it’s important to stick with the same routine as at home. Our bodies become accustomed to certain routines and a certain number of hours of sleep, so try to keep everything as close as possible to what takes place at home.
Whether a person is staying in a hotel for work, as part of a vacation or just as a little get-away-from-home treat, it doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. National Sleep Foundation indicates that by following some simple tips, an individual might find it easy to get a good night’s sleep in a hotel room.