Hate sleeping away from home

[opalescent]

The older I get, the harder I find it to sleep well anywhere other than at home! Does anyone else find this?

It doesn’t matter if it’s camping, staying at a friends, or in a lovely hotel…if it’s not familiar (i.e my own bed) I get proper insomnia…it’s really preventing me from wanting to go away, ever!

Does anyone else experience this? Any thoughts/ tips?

Thank you 😊

Yes, I do understand what you mean.

I don't mind hotels so much albeit, I don't necessarily sleep that well. I don't like staying overnight with friends and family though. I feel quite rude saying it and rude for for declining but I've never really enjoyed it.

Now days, I just want to be able to relax and sleep well with my own levels of comfort and cleanliness.

I don't get insomnia but it definitely feels "wrong"!

I’m the same. Only feel safe when at home.

Has there not been some study (pre-pandemic) about how the first night away is usually one where people have limited sleep?

I get it.
I’m sure you spending the weekend in a 5* hotel and woke at 3am unable to get back to sleep. The bed is amazing, but for some reason I just don’t sleep as well in hotels, frankly it’s because I’ve been totally tanked this whole weekend and the alcohol hasn’t helped!

*im currently spending

@newnortherner111

Has there not been some study (pre-pandemic) about how the first night away is usually one where people have limited sleep?

Yes. I read about it in a book called ‘Why we sleep’. It’s an evolutionary thing that dates from prehistoric times, where we automatically struggle to sleep in a strange place to protect ourselves from danger. Have you noticed that after a few days in a different loader you star to get used to it and sleep properly again. That’s why.

Location not loader obviously 🙄

Me. I love going on holiday but get homesick and don’t sleep well at all. I miss my bed !!
One thing I do is take my own pillow and pillow case.

Just to add contrast, I love staying at a hotel. It feels special, maybe it reminds me of a sleep over. Even in cheap premier inns I always sleep well.

Stayed in a holiday home for a week, by the end of it I had started to feel like I was home there! Lol

Yeah I'm the same. Don't mind hotels or camping, but other people's homes?
Nah. Ugh

I'm the same. I want to be home. I don't get total insomnia but I'm definitely miserable. Also, I would pick a hotel over someone's home every time.

@BiscoffAddict that's interesting!! It makes sense actually...until I see my husband slumbering away wherever we go 😂. I am naturally a more anxious person though.
I really enjoy visiting new places, so really want to get over this hurdle.

There was a medical programme about this a few years ago. Might have been one of the Van Tulleken brothers? As someone else said, its an evolutionary thing and some people take a few nights to feel settled in the new place.

They have a few tips to help, but I can only vaguely recall one. It was something about sleeping with a certain arm out of the covers and I think falling asleep on a certain side of your body. Possibly the side facing the door? Apparently it helps to brain realise that you can fight off a danger if needed. Wish I could remember the tips, but its certainly a well know thing for many people.

@newnortherner111

Has there not been some study (pre-pandemic) about how the first night away is usually one where people have limited sleep?

Yes, the first night is hard! And if you wake up in the middle of the night you can be quite confused about where you are. I once went on a holiday where almost every night was in a difficult place. Bad idea :(

*different

Exactly right for me the first night away is always difficult for me to sleep. Getting used to new noises, lighting, and the unfamiliar, after that I am usually ok, but if it’s just an overnight stay I won’t sleep so usually end up tired out for a few days after.

I don't want to visit anyone overnight, although I love hotels. At the risk of sounding corny, I always do get a good night's sleep in a Premier Inn. I think it's because I can control the temperature.
Plus, I'm up to the toilet at least three times a night and I'd hate to disturb hosts.

Yes, another one who doesn't sleep well the first 2 nights somewhere new. I thought it took me until day 3/4 of a holiday to unwind, but think its the sleep thing. Weekends away mean I've only just got comfy when it's time to come home.

One of the best things about lockdown is it’s meant no travelling and therefore no hotels. I’ve stayed in some lovely places over the years but I always prefer home now. The kids love staying in new places so maybe it is an age thing, I didn’t used to mind it as much I suppose.

I’ve always taken my own pillow from home, which I’ve been called weird for but it helps.

Love staying in hotels by myself. DH is a medical-grade snorer and it's the only time I get a full uninterrupted good quality sleep.

I'm happy in hotels but I never stay with friends. Used to when I was in my 20's and always wanted to get home but suffered with anxiety then and prefered being with DH. I doubt I would mind now but all my friends live close so no need!

I am the opposite. Always sleep really well away from home. But I am a chronic insomniac and I read ages ago that apparently this is common with insomnia. By sleeping in a different bed/ location you are removing the negative associations of your own bed eg tossing and turning trying to get to sleep, waking up tired all the time. So whilst most people sleep better in their own beds, those with insomnia often sleep better elsewhere