Sleeping Well Through Your Holiday Travel Plans
The holiday season is the busiest long-distance travel period of the year. After two years of limited travel due to travel ban restrictions and lockdowns with the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are making end-of-year holiday plans than in years past.
While traveling for the holidays can bring to the surface several inconveniences, healthy sleep promotes wellness so that you can make the most of your holiday trips and spend quality time with your loved ones. Let’s look further into how travel can impact your sleep.
On the Road Again
On average, roughly half of all Americans travel during the holidays. With the number of travelers expected to increase this year, interstates and airports may be much more congested and cause significant delays. These delays can potentially throw off your sleep schedule and overall sleep health. While late flight times and traffic delays can sometimes make sticking to a consistent sleep schedule nearly impossible, being consistent with your sleep life reinforces your body’s sleep-wake cycle.
Being away from home can be exciting, but an unfamiliar sleeping space may make it more difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Prepare for different room conditions by packing items such as small, portable fans, sleep masks and ear plugs so you have these items available in case you need them. Bringing your own pillow from home can also help. Traveling can also lead to disordered sleep and physical and mental exhaustion. Take some down time each day to take care of your body. Getting proper rest is key when traveling to prevent tiredness, exhaustion, and fatigue.
Jet Lag and Travel Fatigue
Are you flying across multiple time zones to spend time with family or friends? If so, you may be at risk of experiencing ‘jet lag.’ A temporary sleep problem, jet lag affects people one or more days after travel while crossing at least two time zones. Several adverse effects of jet lag include daytime sleepiness, deviated sleep/wake times, or even fragmented sleep.
If you are traveling across multiple time zones, you can prepare your body in advance. Starting three days before you go, set your bedtime an hour earlier or later, depending on which direction you are heading, to help your body adjust to the time change more easily. If you want to get sleep during a flight, wear comfortable, breathable clothing and dress in layers. Use noise-canceling headsets and sleep masks to block out noise and light and stay properly hydrated.
Often confused with jet lag, travel fatigue is exhaustion from being on constant “alert” while traveling. You don’t have to be on a flight to experience travel fatigue, as this condition can affect you via multiple modes of transportation.
It’s essential to keep a healthy internal clock for the overall health of your body. Whether your destination is near or far this holiday season, FusionSleep hopes that you travel safely and sleep soundly.
You don’t have to keep putting up with sleepless nights. At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients as young as two years old get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, in-lab and at-home sleep testing options, and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.