Why do we sleep in a foreign bed?
If you’re a frequent traveler, you probably already slept in a lot of different beds. But also if you’re just staying with friends for a few days or visiting your parents over the weekend you might be used to sleeping in many different places.
I’m also familiar with this situation. At the end of 2017 I had 2 weeks off work and somewhere in the middle of those days I realized that I changed my bed 5 times within 10 days. I visited my parents for Christmas and my friend for New Years Eve and I stayed at both houses for a few days. These are the 6 beds where I slept: my old bed and the guest bed at my parents’, my own bed at home, the couch, the bed and an airbed at my friend’s.
I changed my bed 5 times within 10 days!
Of course this is not my usual life. Most of the time I sleep in my own bed but there are also a lot of times, when this isn’t the case. Nevertheless, I rarely have problems with sleeping or falling asleep. Thinking about it I realized it’s due to a few tips I found and came up with in the last years.
This is why I decided to write this post so you can maybe pick a few ideas to make your life more comfortable.
Just note that this is not medical advice but simply my own experience.
1) Take your own pillow
You know there are people who sleep on their back, then there are those who sleep on their side and also some who sleep on their belly. All types should have different pillow shapes to get the best sleeping position. Unfortunately nearly all beds just have one type of cushion.
Luckily I’m comfortable with most pillows because I sleep on my side and like this it’s best to have a thick one. If there’s just a flat cushion I just fold it a few times so it fits. But if you’re not like me, it might be best to just bring your own pillow. Of course that’s not always possible but when you have some space left in your luggage you could bring a small one. Or just buy another cushion to keep at your parents’ or friend’s. This will be worth it if you stay there regularly, and they probably won’t have a problem with it.
2) Sleeping mask and ear plugs – your new best friends
These 2 are the basics every traveler should know. I don’t want to miss them on my trips. It’s so convenient to have your sleeping mask and ear plugs with you. If you ever slept in a hostel room, you know what I’m talking about.
But they are also so helpful on other trips. You want to take a nap in the train but the sun is shining through the window and even the lights are on? Put on your sleeping mask and you will feel like it’s in the middle of the night! That kid 2 seats in front of you is whining? No problem because you have your ear plugs! I think you get it.
If you never used those 2 magical items before it can take a few times to get used to it but don’t give up if you’re feeling uncomfortable at your first attempt. Maybe you just need another size.
You’re wondering where to get a nice sleeping mask? Check out these cute eye masks at Etsy! A lot of reusable or natural ear plugs can be found on the internet.
3) All you need is a plushie
Do you remember these days when all you needed to solve a problem was your favorite plushie? With your best friend at your side everything seemed possible.
If you feel lonely in a foreign bed, try getting into this feeling again. Maybe you still have this doll you carried around everywhere or you have a new stuffed animal you like. Take it with you on your trip and it will bring you nice dreams.
You don’t have a plushie anymore? Buy one at a flea market. You can be sure it brings a lot of love with it and is eager to meet you!
Plushies are not your thing or you forgot it? When you feel lonely in bed just grab the corner of your blanket and form it like a small ball. Or simply hug your pillow.
4) Sleeping pills
I’ll be honest: I never used them in my life and I don’t really know much about it. But I do know many people use sleeping pills a lot and swear by them. I just try to avoid medication if it’s not necessary. The only advice I can give to you is to ask your doctor about it. Sorry!
5) Water and food – take care of your needs
You can read about it everywhere: You should drink enough to stay hydrated. For me it’s so hard to fall asleep when I’m thirsty. Same goes with food. Lying in bed with your stomach growling? What a nightmare.
Be sure to drink and eat enough. But also don’t overdo it. You shouldn’t eat a huge meal right before you go to bed. Give your stomach enough time to digest it before you go to sleep. Remember, your body wants to sleep, too, not just your mind.
6) What about Alcohol?
Especially on vacation or weekend trips a lot of people like to party or meet friends and drink alcohol. I don’t want to keep you from doing this. Always keep in mind that alcohol can confuse your body immensely. When I had a little too much alcohol I tend to lie in bed and think about the whole day. I turn around from side to side and even talk to myself.
It actually is a good idea to keep your mind on the amount of alcohol you drink. A glass of wine can help you sleep better but you won’t do yourself a favor if you overdo it.
7) Know your way out
I hardly ever wake up because I need to go to the bathroom. But when it happens I don’t turn on the light and just drag my feet out of my bedroom. Sometimes I don’t even open my eyes. Before I feel completely awake I’m back in my bed and in the land of sleep again. However, if my foot hits something on the way I’m so awake right at this instance. And believe me it takes a while to fall asleep again.
So what I’m trying to say is: always have a clear way from your bed. This is very helpful if you need to go to the bathroom. But it can also help you ease your mind if you’re a scaredy-cat. You’re afraid you won’t get out of the house in case of a fire? Have a free route without any obstacle and you might be able to sleep better.
8) Keep your feet warm
Have you ever tried sleeping with ice-cold feet? You probably had a lot of trouble. At least this is one of my standard problems. Whenever it’s too cold in bed I get up again and give my feet a hot shower. So sleep-soothing.
But there are times when a shower is just not possible. Then you need some tricks to warm up your feed. Reusable pocket warmers can be a really great help here. There are natural ones you need to put in the microwave to heat up. But there are also those that just need to be activated and put in boiling water for a few minutes before the next use.
Have a look at these cute pocket warmer tutorials on Pinterest!
9) Don’t be afraid to ask
This is very important for those of you who are shy, introvert or don’t want to be a burden. The truth is: If anything isn’t right, you need to talk about it!
Imagine you stay with a friend and your pillow is really uncomfortable. You may think your friend doesn’t have a better one because if she had, she would have given it to you, right? If you just accept it you will probably be moody because you didn’t sleep well and your friend won’t understand what’s wrong. But if you simply ask her for another pillow you might find out that she indeed does have other ones. She just prepared this one because it is the most expensive cushion she has. This way she wanted to give you the best. Misunderstanding solved.
So please talk about any problems that might be fixed regardless of whether they seem easy or hard to solve. Of course, you shouldn’t blame anyone and be polite in your speech. Believe me, however, most people will be delighted to be able to make your stay more comfortable.
10) Feel at home and safe
My last tip can be a tricky one but it’s so vital. You should always feel safe wherever you are sleeping. Sometimes this can be very easy. Lock your door and nobody will be able to come near you without you realizing. Or make sure that there’s a smoke alarm in your room etc. Each of us has her own criteria about what is important.
And please, if you don’t feel safe then don’t stay there! This hostel feels very creepy? Search for another one, even if it’s more expensive. You will definitely sleep better. If you feel uneasy at a friend’s or your family’s here comes the tricky part. However, usually it’s better to talk about it and find a solution than to just accept it.
Eventually I wish for you to feel at home wherever you are staying. This one is easy for me. My home is where I’m sleeping. Of course there’s my real home and my family that will always be deep in my heart. But when I’m on a trip I always think about the place I’m staying at when I’m talking about going home. This can be my friend’s house, a hotel room or even a tent.
Even if it’s not that easy for you try thinking about it this way and you will be glad to come back to your bed which is already welcoming you. When you feel at home, you will be able to sleep so much better. What else do you need?
Have a good night 😉
These are the tips that help me the most to sleep comfortably. Did this article inspire you to try them? Or do you even have more tips that work better for you? Please tell me about it in the comments.
