Sleeping While Traveling - Five Tips for Getting a Good Night"s Sleep When You Are on the Road
Sleeping while traveling can be a real challenge, at least for those of us who are fussy sleepers.
And nowadays, most reasonably priced flights insist on leaving at 6 a.
m.
, which means I need to get to the airport at 4 a.
m.
For anyone who is a night owl, this makes for a really bad start.
So what to do? Here are a few steps that will help you get that good night's sleep no matter where you're staying.
1) Your must-have sleep paraphernalia Think about what kinds of things help you sleep and be sure to include them in your carry-on luggage.
These can range from comfy jammies to warm socks to ear plugs all the way to herbs and aromatherapy, plus an iPod or other mp3-player preloaded with some soothing going-to-sleep meditations or subliminal fall-asleep-fast music, or both.
2) Accommodate quirky bedding requirements If you have a favorite pillow or some other ingredient for better sleep, you may want to pack that as well.
I happen to like sleeping with a Euro style quilt, something that you don't usually find at hotels, so I take mine with me wherever I go, which usually means a second suitcase.
Of course, these days, the airlines charge extra for even the first suitcase, and so taking a second one is a major investment.
But that quilt has to come along.
It means the difference between sleeping pretty well or tossing and turning most of the night.
As a result I've learned to travel a bit lighter than I used to.
3) Herbal sleeping aids And when it comes to herbs...
mostly you can them pre-formulated for your needs right at the local drug store or health food store.
Valerian is the main ingredient in most of those products.
Also look for Melatonin, hops and passion flower.
You may want to experiment with them long before your planned trip, so you'll know which one(s) are working best for you.
Of course, you'd think after having gotten up at 3 a.
m.
the night before, I'd be too exhausted not to sleep, but that's not something I can count on.
4) Aromatherapy And then, there's aromatherapy.
You may want to carry a little bottle of a calming blend, or one designed specifically for helping you sleep better.
Just put a couple of drops on a tissue and tuck it under your pillow.
5) Be sure to stash it all in your carry-on bag I've learned the hard way that it's really important to bring everything you need to sleep comfortably in your carry-on bag.
Because you can never count on your suitcase arriving when you do.
In fact,a couple of years ago, I got stranded in Chicago - without my luggage.
No earplugs anywhere to be found, and no herbs either.
Lesson learned.
And nowadays, most reasonably priced flights insist on leaving at 6 a.
m.
, which means I need to get to the airport at 4 a.
m.
For anyone who is a night owl, this makes for a really bad start.
So what to do? Here are a few steps that will help you get that good night's sleep no matter where you're staying.
1) Your must-have sleep paraphernalia Think about what kinds of things help you sleep and be sure to include them in your carry-on luggage.
These can range from comfy jammies to warm socks to ear plugs all the way to herbs and aromatherapy, plus an iPod or other mp3-player preloaded with some soothing going-to-sleep meditations or subliminal fall-asleep-fast music, or both.
2) Accommodate quirky bedding requirements If you have a favorite pillow or some other ingredient for better sleep, you may want to pack that as well.
I happen to like sleeping with a Euro style quilt, something that you don't usually find at hotels, so I take mine with me wherever I go, which usually means a second suitcase.
Of course, these days, the airlines charge extra for even the first suitcase, and so taking a second one is a major investment.
But that quilt has to come along.
It means the difference between sleeping pretty well or tossing and turning most of the night.
As a result I've learned to travel a bit lighter than I used to.
3) Herbal sleeping aids And when it comes to herbs...
mostly you can them pre-formulated for your needs right at the local drug store or health food store.
Valerian is the main ingredient in most of those products.
Also look for Melatonin, hops and passion flower.
You may want to experiment with them long before your planned trip, so you'll know which one(s) are working best for you.
Of course, you'd think after having gotten up at 3 a.
m.
the night before, I'd be too exhausted not to sleep, but that's not something I can count on.
4) Aromatherapy And then, there's aromatherapy.
You may want to carry a little bottle of a calming blend, or one designed specifically for helping you sleep better.
Just put a couple of drops on a tissue and tuck it under your pillow.
5) Be sure to stash it all in your carry-on bag I've learned the hard way that it's really important to bring everything you need to sleep comfortably in your carry-on bag.
Because you can never count on your suitcase arriving when you do.
In fact,a couple of years ago, I got stranded in Chicago - without my luggage.
No earplugs anywhere to be found, and no herbs either.
Lesson learned.
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