How Older Women Can Get a Good Sleep When Travelling

Expert tips on how to get a good sleep while travelling

1. Check the temperature

“Temperature is really important,” Robins says. “Too warm? You’re not going to sleep very well. Too cold? Again, you’re not going to sleep very well. Everyone has a different temperature that works for their body. I highly recommend that you try to identify what your ideal temperature is before you travel, so you know exactly what to turn the thermostat to,” she says.

And what if you’re travelling with a partner who has a much different ideal temperature than you do? Don’t suffer in silence and lose sleep over it. Get creative.

“That is completely common. Sometimes, I will have extra blankets on my side of the bed because my husband likes it cold. I’ve come to embrace the colder rooms because I can get all snuggled like the Princess and the Pea underneath my layers of blankets, and I always call down for an extra blanket and comforter. Embrace the differences and find the positive in them,” she says.

2. Block out noise (or create noise in the absence of it)

Use earplugs to block out offending city sounds. If you need background noise, as Robins does, use a white noise app.

3. Make good daytime decisions: eat well, exercise, and lower stress levels

“The daytime decisions you make are what set you up for healthy sleep or disrupted sleep. So you really need to look at the daytime decisions you’re making. What does your diet look like? Are you eating a diet of processed foods and sugar because you’re exhausted and craving sweets that give you quick energy? Well, that’s going to take your blood sugar and pop it up and down, which will disrupt your REM cycles at night,” Robins says.

“It’s all about eating whole, nutritious foods and limiting sugar. Eat the rainbow – fresh fruits, vegetables and lean protein. If you’re interested in going plant-based, your 40s are a good time to consider it or try it. The more plants you can get in your body every day, the better off your hormones are going to be. Daily exercise is also key, especially getting outside for fresh oxygen and Vitamin D to boost your sleep cycles.”