Sleeping is required for your body to recharge and be healthy but it’s not always easy to have a good rest when traveling. To help, you should create a nighttime ritual!
Note: This article contains affiliated links. If you decide to purchase one of the recommended items, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Sometimes it’s just hard to sleep…
There are many reasons that can lead us, sensitive humans, to have a hard time getting quality sleep.
Maybe your eyes are filled with the wonders you’ve seen and your brain is still wired like a Christmas tree. Maybe it’s just hard to fall asleep thinking of the next day plans and all the exciting things you’ll get to do.
Perhaps it’s because the mattress isn’t to your liking, or because of the busy streets outside which create some noise that you are not used to. Then again, it might be too quiet for you! We’re all different.
On my side, falling asleep is usually fairly easy, but then, comes the middle of the night… I often wake up, having panic attack because I have no clue where I am! I’m in shock and completely lost and after that, it’s usually hard to fall back asleep! So I started having a small nighttime ritual and it helps.
If you have trouble getting a good night rest when traveling, maybe you should create a nighttime ritual as well.
Creating a nighttime ritual can help
No late coffee, no Instagram scrolling before going to bed… You know the usual stuff to get a good night sleep.
So let’s dig a little deeper in what your nighttime ritual could look like…
You may want to include a light stretch
Stretching lightly before going to bed, will help release the tensions from a day of driving or exploring.
Roaming around a new city, museums and other sites, will create back tension. It can be from looking up to amazing architecture, standing in line or carrying a bit too much in your handbag! Ladies, you know what I mean with this last one!
A while back, I gave up fancy handbags when traveling because with my camera, water bottle and all the other stuff, it became just too painful for my one shoulder! I now have a very light fabric cross body type of bag which make things a lot better. It’s still not a miracle cure!
So yeah, stretching a bit feels great!
As well as a quick shower
A quick shower to wash away the sweat & tensions of the day is usually useful. I’ll admit sometimes I’m too tired for it. Sometimes I do manage to force myself and I’ve never regretted it!
The Weleda sport shower gel is one of my favorite when traveling. I’m not a huge fan of the scent, but the arnica in it does help a bit. Traveling is like exercising, isn’t it!?
A foot massage is highly recommended!
Whether you’ve been hiking or exploring a city, your feet will thank you for a bit of TLC. And quite frankly, there is nothing better than peppermint to cool off sore feet! It’s just a fact!
I love the Burt’s Bees foot lotion below. Not greasy, but so minty, it feels great! The Body Shop rescue feet cream is also a good option.
The Body Shop peppermint foot cream. I believe it is vegan but not 100% organic.
Burt’s Bees peppermint foot lotion. Very pepperminty! Not vegan, but organic.
One other option is to add a few drops of peppermint essential oil to your regular body cream. What ever you chose, the important thing is to take care of your feet! Foot massage are very relaxing and that’s exactly what you need to get a good night rest.
Prepare your room
There are 2 ou 3 different aspects here. Personally, I need my room to feel like at home. For example, I usually spray in the room, some relaxing essential oils like lavender. Having a well known scent in the room helps not feeling lost.
I also make sure to tidy up things. As you can see below in my extra tip, I go pretty far with this 😉
Sleeping in the dark is a must for me so I turn off all disturbing lights, like the radio and tv (sometimes I have to unplug them to get read off the standby light!). I so wish there was a way to hide the blinking light of the fire alarm system! Why do they put those above the bed?!!
There are some very small devises that can help you add an extra level of security. Extra door locks that should work on most doors and are worth investing in! Like the one below.
And last prepare your bed!
Once your room is prepared and ready, it’s usually time to get to bed. Finally! There is one last thing I do and it is to spray some Eucaliptus mist on my pillow, the same I use at home. Again, this is important. It’s a smell I’m used to. A smell that feels like home, a safe place.
Eucaliptus helps me breath. But clearly, you can use any pillow mist and scent as long as it makes you feel calm and is a familiar scent.
The 3 below are quite nice!
On a side note, you’ve probably read before that when road tripping, I travel with my own pillow. It’s like a security blanket. It helps me sleep better. I can also use it in the car, if I need a break on a long trip. When traveling by plane, I don’t take it but I try to have a soft scarf, that I can put on the hotel pillow if I need extra comfiness.
When it’s finally time to head to dreamland, I turn off all remaining devises and put my ear plugs! Actually I should say ear plug, singular, not plural, as I usually only use one.
I give one last look at the room, while reminding myself where I am and why, and I’m ready to fall sleep!
So those are my ideas and recommendations for you, to create a nighttime ritual which will help you feel relaxed & safe, like at home! Hope you like it. Of course you can adapt to what is important to you.
Do you want an extra tip? Here it is…
Extra tip
You’ll probably think I’m crazy after reading what I’m about to write… But hear me out!
The thing is that I had countless nights, especially in UK hotels and serviced apartments, where the fire alarm went off, in the middle of the night. People cook at incredible hours!
After a few time, I changed the way I handled these situations:
First no more sleeping in the nude! In case of fire alarm, it takes too much time to dress.
Second, my coat and shoes are always easy to grab on the way out. Especially in winter when you never know how long you’re going to be staying outside.
The key to the room is always on the door, by the door or in my coat pocket. It depends on the type of key but the idea is that I won’t forget it and will be able to get back in my room quickly, in case of false alarm.
And third, my handbag is always near me, ready to go! I know, I know, you’re not suppose to take anything with you, in case of emergency. But I always feel, I would be in too much trouble not saving my essentials including my passport, phone, computer, camera and yeah… jewelry!
So that is my extra tip: be ready for an emergency exit!
Pin these for later
