Life on the open road is an endless adventure: changing landscapes, new faces, and exciting experiences. Along with the adventure are new sounds, unfamiliar locations, and close campground neighbors. This can make it hard to sleep at night. Adding to this for those of us at a “certain” age, is the almost inevitable sleep disturbances that are part of aging (oh, joy!).
The more I have been working my goal to lose weight and increase energy, the more I have learned about the role sleep plays in our health. We all know that it is important to be rested before hitting the road and driving our homes to the next destination, but we also can enjoy our adventures more when we are awake and full of energy. To help you overcome any road-trip insomnia, check out these tips for better sleep:
Pay Attention to Suspension
This might seem elementary, but if you live with one or more people (or pets), you have felt the rig move whenever someone gets up to use the restroom. If you are like me, this shaking can easily wake me. So when you arrive at your campground, be sure to ensure that you are fully level. If your jacks do not full extend or they have a hard time fully leveling due to the uneven campsite, look into getting boards or jack pads that help the strain off the jacks and your shaking down.
Of course, you can’t get rid of all the motion (and maybe the rocking motion is soothing to you), but I like to limit it as much as possible.
Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule
I know, we free-spirits don’t want to be tied to a calendar or schedule! We like to roam the country and find adventure! However, while our hearts might be built for spontaneity, our bodies are built for consistency—especially where sleep is concerned. Building a habit of going to sleep and getting up at a consistent time can help us feel more rested and have energy to enjoy our new day’s adventure.
A helpful hint for when you change time zones is to get outside. If you arrive during the day, take a walk or hike to get outside. The light and physical activity will help reset your internal clock. It is also helpful to get outside with your morning coffee. Stop and take three or four full deep breaths. It will get your day and later your night, off to a great start!
Refresh Your Space With Better Sleep in Mind
Our circadian rhythm—the internal sleep-wake cycle our bodies operate under—is designed to release sleep-producing melatonin at a consistent time every day, usually as it becomes twilight. By going to sleep and waking up at the same time, your body will naturally fall asleep more easily and get better quality of sleep. This is very important for nomads who might change time zones several times a month or year.
One of the best things about RVing is that you take your bedroom with you wherever you go so you can enjoy a new place and still sleep in your own bed. That said, we know that RV manufacturers don’t build rigs with lovely interior design in mind. Take time to refresh your home’s interior with a focus of creating the ideal sleep environment for you. The ideal sleep environment is dark, cool and quiet so consider changes as needed to ensure you have the perfect sleeping environment.
Here are a few ideas:
- If your rig didn’t come with them, look into investing in blackout curtains or shades. Sometimes the lights of the campground can disrupt your sleep.
- Add a small portable fan to promote good airflow and keep the room cooler. The smaller fans allow you to modify in case one of you sleeps hot while the other is cold no matter the temperature.
- Replace your mattress and bedding. RV mattresses are notorious for not being ideal so consider changing it or adding a pillow top pad to soften around your curves.
- Add a small diffuser with soothing essential oils, like lavender and chamomile to involve your senses into a restful, calming sleep.
Build Better Habits
It is the little things you do every day that build to success, not the big leaps so consider what you might add to your routine that can benefit your sleep and overall health. If find that tracking my habits helps me make adjustments and see what is making a difference. For instance, I track my activity and steps through the day and have noticed that when I get out for a walk, I get a better night’s sleep.
And while I rebelled against the idea that screens were affecting my ability to get to sleep, I have been trying lately to turn off electronics at 10:30 and only read physical books at bedtime to see if this assists me. Sadly, I have proven that those experts are right and I get to sleep faster with some distance between my screen time and turning out the lights.
Other habits to consider are caffeine and alcohol consumption, making a list or plan for the next day before bedtime, nighttime snacking or beverages. See how changes in these can make a difference in your sleep patterns.
Finding ways to get a better night’s sleep whether you travel or stay in one place is essential. The better night’s sleep you get, the more you will savor the adventure every new day has to offer.
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