The reason is you often can't sleep when you are in a new place

You are on vacation out of town and have to stay at a hotel or at a relative's house. Unfortunately, on the first night of your stay, you can't sleep even though your body is tired. Have you experienced this? Relax, you are not alone.

Researchers have observed this unique phenomenon, where a person is usually unable to sleep in a new place. This phenomenon is also often referred to first night effect or the first night effect. Why did it happen and how to solve it, huh? Here's the full review.

Why can't you sleep in a new place?

According to a study in the journal Current Biology in 2016, when you are in a new place, your brain is kept awake. Even when you're trying to sleep.

In this study, experts from Brown University in the United States monitored the brain activity of the participants who were asked to sleep in the laboratory. On the first night, it seemed that the participants' left hemispheres were still active and reacting to the sounds around them.

Compared to the right hemisphere, the left hemisphere plays a more important role in guarding and detecting threats. This is why it is easier to wake up during sleep when you hear voices coming from your left ear.

Indeed, your left brain will be more alert when it is in a new place. This is because sleeping in a strange place makes you anxious about the unexpected. For example, room temperature or different sleeping positions. To protect yourself from threats, your left brain will also be on guard while you sleep.

Being in a new place, whether on vacation or because of work, can also increase your stress levels. It can also make you more restless and sleepless.

Even a study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research revealed that first night effect this can last for more than one night. So you don't have to worry too much if on the second night you haven't been able to sleep well. Your brain still needs to adapt to the new environment.

The more you travel, the easier it will be to sleep in a new place

Make no mistake, there are also people who can even sleep soundly in a new place. If you are the type of person who sleeps easily in a new place, you may have traveled a lot and stayed at hotels or friends' houses.

According to experts from Brown University, the human brain is a fairly flexible organ. If you often sleep in a new place, your brain will be less anxious and alert.

The reason is, you have had to sleep in a new place several times and it turns out that there is no threat whatsoever. You can also relax and sleep better even in a strange place.

A way to sleep better in a new place

If you often can't sleep when you stay in a new place, there are a number of ways you can deal with it. Check out the following tips.

• Take a warm bath before bed. This will help you feel more comfortable. However, make sure you don't overheat while sleeping. So, set the room temperature so it's cool enough.
• Don't play HP before bed. Try to turn off all your electronics about 90 minutes before bedtime. Rays and flashes of light from smartphone You will make the brain more alert and difficult to rest.
• Bring a pillow or blanket from home. If you can, bring a pillow or blanket from home when you stay in a new place. The smell and texture of the fabric can "trick" the brain as if you were sleeping at home.
• Wear earplugs (ear plugs). So that you don't wake up easily because of the sounds around you, use earplugs when you sleep.