Trouble Sleeping In A New Place? Here’s Why

When you travel, especially to a new place, your sleep patterns can be thrown off. Different time zones, new surroundings, and changes in schedule can all lead to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep if you’re finding yourself struggling to get a good night’s rest on your trip, read on for some possible reasons why.

It's normal to feel anxious or stressed in a new environment

Moving to a new environment can be an unnerving experience, as it's only natural to feel anxious or stressed and excited when faced with different people and unfamiliar surroundings.Such feelings are perfectly normal, and it helps to remember that everyone has experienced them at some point in their lives. It is important to take the time to ground yourself, practice self-care, and get plenty of rest, in order to make the transition a bit easier. Finding activities you enjoy in your new surroundings, such as joining a club or exploring popular areas nearby, can also help reduce those anxious feelings about being in a new place.

Your body is adjusting to a new sleep schedule

Restructuring a sleep schedule can be a stressful undertaking, but with proper planning and effort, it can be exceedingly rewarding. Your body naturally has an internal clock that keeps you in sync with your environment and regulates many bodily functions.

Making adjustments to the structure of your sleep will inevitably come with hurdles, melatonin supplements could be helpful, but over-counter melatonin can have the opposite effect of its intended purpose. Often times doses of melatonin are way off than what it says on the labels, according to various studies so it’s something to keep in mind when supplementing melatonin in general, but it can be very helpful with adjusting wake-up times. 

If you are patient and consistent in following the new schedule, you will find that your body eventually adjusts, and you can enjoy more restful nights of deep, invigorating slumber.

You may be experiencing jet lag if you've recently traveled

If you've recently gone on a trip that involved extensive air travel, especially to a different time zone, there's a good chance you may be suffering from jet lag.

Symptoms of jet lag can include fatigue, headaches, and trouble sleeping—all of which might make it difficult for you to function throughout the day. If you find yourself in this situation, don't worry: jet lag can be overcome with a little patience and time. As a sleep aid, melatonin might be effective and helpful, try to take regular naps throughout the day, exercise regularly if possible to increase your energy levels, and most importantly, avoid caffeine as it could keep you from getting the restful night's sleep your body needs to recover quickly.

Final thoughts

Traveling to a new place can be exciting, but it can also disrupt your sleep patterns. If you find yourself having trouble sleeping in unfamiliar surroundings, it might be due to feelings of anxiety, trying to adjust to a new sleep schedule or even jet lag from extensive air travel.

However, there are ways that you can help your body adjust, such as taking regular naps, exercising, and avoiding caffeine. If you know you’ll be sleeping in a room without blackout curtains, consider wearing a sleep mask to block out light.

With a little patience and time, you can eventually get back on track with your sleep schedule and enjoy restful nights in your new surroundings.