Many people sleep shorter and worse than usual on their first night in a new country, and experts call this pattern the first night effect. Researchers say it’s a normal brain reaction to an unfamiliar environment.

Robinson Leoni says this happens to him regularly when he travels for work. He sleeps an average of seven hours at home, while his smartwatch on the first night away from home, regardless of the quality of the bed or earplugs, shows roughly five hours of sleep.

“I feel normal, no stress or anything like that, but I notice that I keep waking up,” he said.

Anna Wick, a senior sleep researcher at the University of Freiburg in Switzerland, says the phenomenon has been confirmed in dozens of studies and is likely to have roots. evolutionary. According to her, it is assumed that this is an adaptation due to which the brain remains alert in an unfamiliar environment during sleep.

Ahmad Mayeli, professor of psychiatry and sleep researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, says that most people experience this effect, even if they do not clearly notice it.

On average, people in a new environment sleep 20 to 30 minutes less, and the part of the brain associated with the deepest stage of sleep remains more active, showing higher alertness.

“It’s not exactly like dolphins, but studies still show that a part of the brain sleeps less”, emphasizes Mayeli.

Experts add that the dream can be affected by the trip itself, the light from the hotel room, family tension or the expectation that the night will be bad. The effect is often more pronounced in children, teenagers and the elderly, while it generally diminishes after the first night.

Psychologist Lisa Strauss recommends common habits for better sleep: a cool, dark room, going to bed at the same time, an evening routine and avoiding screens before bed.

She also advises making the new environment more familiar, with quiet activities in bed and bringing the pillow. or your blanket. If the next day is particularly important, Mayeli recommends arriving the night before to give your body time to adjust.

Source: prizrenpost