Janette Mason is one of our Health Educators at Vitasave. She is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, specializing in digestion and mental health. She is passionate about helping people reach their health goals with easy and sustainable solutions. As a travel addict herself, she knows the importance of a good night’s sleep and proper nutrition to make the most out of any trip!
Here, Mason, explains why we have such a difficult time sleeping while travelling, and gives us tips on how to avoid becoming a moody sloth on our summer vacations.Q: Why do so many people have a hard time sleeping while travelling?
A: There are a number of reasons we have a hard time sleeping while travelling but the main reason is the time difference. Our body's internal clock is hardwired to go to sleep and wake up around the same time every night. The clock at your new destination might say 3 AM, but your body is saying, time to wake up! When we adjust this schedule, even by just a few hours, it can be very difficult for our bodies to adapt. Another common reason we have trouble sleeping while travelling is that as humans we are creatures of habit, so we like our nightly routines and comfort of our own bed. New places take time for us to become fully relaxed.
Q: Can you explain why we become so grouchy when our sleep game is off?
A: Quality sleep is key to keep our bodies running optimally every day. Our sleep and wake cycle are a balancing act of two main hormones: cortisol and melatonin. Melatonin helps us stay asleep and cortisol helps us wake up. If we didn’t get a good night’s rest, our bodies won’t signal to release cortisol and give us the energy we need to start our day. No energy = cranky traveller! A favourite sleep aid of mine that combats jet lag and sleepless nights is Sleep-Fx.
Q: What's inside?
A: The Sleep-Fx formula is truly a holistic approach to helping our bodies get the rest we need to make the most out of our vacay! By this, I mean that it has ingredients like GABA, 5HTP, and L-theanine that help turn off our racing minds; herbs like valerian, lemon balm, and passionflower that put our bodies and mind into a peaceful state, and a small amount of melatonin to ensure we get a good, deep sleep.
Q: What are other ways we can reset our sleep cycle, so we can wake up feeling refreshed and vacation ready?
A: 1) If you have a long flight, try and schedule it during the night so that you can use the flight to sleep (with Sleep-Fx’s help!) and wake up with the sunrise at your new destination.
2) Be mindful of the amount of caffeine you consume while traveling. I know we want to make the most of our vacation days and sometimes coffee seems like a great, quick-fix, but this will only make sleeping that much harder. So, limit your intake and have your last cup by 2 PM! 3) Have a hot shower before going to bed, or indulge in a relaxing bath—you are on vacation after all! This will help relax your body, so you feel more at peace by the time you hit the sheets.
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