You’re in a new place with a new culture and new faces. You should be excited, but jet lag is making you moody and you flight experienced so much turbulence that you could hardly keep it together, not to mention get some sleep. You’ve been chugging coffee to stay awake, pounding soda with every meal, and drinking every night with that awesome couple you met, hoping the alcohol will help you fall asleep later. Whatever you do, you can’t seem to catch any sleep or regain any energy and your mood is affecting your reason for traveling, whether it be work, education, or pleasure. You have no idea what’s keeping you up and you’re overwhelmed and stressed. Well, big news! It’s probably what you’ve been drinking! People often forget that what you put into your body affects your health and specifically how you sleep. The drink choices you are making can affect your energy, sleep levels, and mental-wellbeing.
Deborah Sewitch, psychologist and life coach, makes several suggestions regarding what drinks to cut back on when trying to catch some zzzs. Her two big culprits: caffeine and alcohol. Sure, when traveling you may feel like you need that coffee after a hot train ride with no air conditioner or phone charger, but it’s only going to hurt you later. Sewitch stresses that while caffeine can give you that buzz of energy, its effects are short lived. When the buzz wears off, individuals feel a sudden drop in energy and can feel drowsy and fatigued. Caffeine also makes individuals feel jittery and restless, as the stimulant increases your heart and respiratory rates. No one wants to feel their heart racing as they try to fall asleep. She suggests skipping the coffee and opting for some more relaxing and healthy beverages, such as chamomile tea before bed and water throughout the day.
It’s a tempting idea to grab some quick drinks for lunch with new coworkers from a branch halfway around the world or at the end of a long day of exploring and site-seeing with your partner, but maybe it’s time to cut back the alcohol intake while traveling. That glass of wine with lunch may help you loosen up, but it may lead to an afternoon of downiness and napping and, when you’re finally ready to sleep at night, you’ll find yourself tossing and turning. Sewitch also notes, that while alcohol does help you fall asleep, once it has been metabolized, your body will wake up and continue to do so throughout the night. Even if you do manage to fall asleep, alcohol can cause intense dreaming and degrade your ability to achieve deep sleep. Alcohol can leave you feeling exhausted in the morning after getting eight hours of bad sleep.
So, ditch the coffee, soda, and alcohol while you travel and opt for something healthier. Stay hydrated throughout the day and drink plenty of water. Instead of alcohol at night, try a relaxing chamomile tea or Som Sleep. Small and easy to travel with, this berry-flavored sleep supplement is not only affordable but will help you drift off to sleep and stay asleep. Looking for energy while you travel? Som Sleep leaves you feeling energized and refreshed in the morning and ready for your day. Next time you get run down during your travels, ask yourself if you are making the right drink choices and reach for Som Sleep.