Hotels can be, quite possibly, the worst places to guarantee a good night's sleep, with the coming and going of residents at all hours, the road noise, the alien bed and pillows and the whirring of the air con unit that seems to have a mind of its own! BUT, that doesn't mean you have to settle for a night of broken sleep.
Treat your room like it was home and you could be sleeping like a baby, by following my top tips for a great night's sleep.
1.
Have a bath, not a shower, last thing at night Close to bedtime, a shower will invigorate and awaken you, which is NOT the aim, when you want to get some quality sleep! Instead, opt for a soak in the bath and allow your body to unwind.
A bath will actually make you feel sleepy and relaxed.
2.
Avoid working into the early hours Whether in your room on the laptop, or out at business functions and dinners, try and set yourself a cut-off point, whereby you tell yourself that you will be in bed by a certain time.
Otherwise the hours will pass and before you know it, you've had very little sleep.
If you're working late in your room, set an alarm timer to sound when it's time to pack up and go to bed.
3.
Set your room up for sleep Close to bedtime, dim the lights in your room, or switch off the main light and use the lamps or bedside lamps instead.
Tell your body that it's getting darker and induce sleep.
If possible, keep the TV off, and instead put some music on, or read a book for a while.
4.
Avoid coffee and alcohol in the evening Caffeine is a stimulant, which will only make you feel more alert and artificially awake.
It will keep you awake and give you a broken night's sleep, as will alcohol.
Drink water in the evening, and always have a glass or bottle of water to hand, at the side of your bed, so that you can rehydrate in the middle of the night, if you wake.
5.
Don't worry, be happy! Before bed time, start to unwind and switch off from work.
Call home or think about your weekend plans coming up.
Think about non-work related things and go to bed with a clear mind, not one packed full of questions, business ideas and schedules.
Business Travel is always tiring, so do yourself a favour and make it as stress-free as possible...
Treat your room like it was home and you could be sleeping like a baby, by following my top tips for a great night's sleep.
1.
Have a bath, not a shower, last thing at night Close to bedtime, a shower will invigorate and awaken you, which is NOT the aim, when you want to get some quality sleep! Instead, opt for a soak in the bath and allow your body to unwind.
A bath will actually make you feel sleepy and relaxed.
2.
Avoid working into the early hours Whether in your room on the laptop, or out at business functions and dinners, try and set yourself a cut-off point, whereby you tell yourself that you will be in bed by a certain time.
Otherwise the hours will pass and before you know it, you've had very little sleep.
If you're working late in your room, set an alarm timer to sound when it's time to pack up and go to bed.
3.
Set your room up for sleep Close to bedtime, dim the lights in your room, or switch off the main light and use the lamps or bedside lamps instead.
Tell your body that it's getting darker and induce sleep.
If possible, keep the TV off, and instead put some music on, or read a book for a while.
4.
Avoid coffee and alcohol in the evening Caffeine is a stimulant, which will only make you feel more alert and artificially awake.
It will keep you awake and give you a broken night's sleep, as will alcohol.
Drink water in the evening, and always have a glass or bottle of water to hand, at the side of your bed, so that you can rehydrate in the middle of the night, if you wake.
5.
Don't worry, be happy! Before bed time, start to unwind and switch off from work.
Call home or think about your weekend plans coming up.
Think about non-work related things and go to bed with a clear mind, not one packed full of questions, business ideas and schedules.
Business Travel is always tiring, so do yourself a favour and make it as stress-free as possible...