How to Sleep Well in a New Place

Just moved into a new apartment and having trouble getting into a sleep routine? You’re not the only one. More than 50 million Americans suffer with sleep problems at some point in their lives. But don’t worry—we’ve got some tricks that will help you get sleep situated in your new home.

Set a regular bedtime. One of the most important things to do in order to stay on a regular sleep schedule is to go to bed at the same time every night. Choose a time when you normally start to feel tired and adjust it by 15 minute increments each night if you’re trying to get to bed earlier.

Wake up at the same time every day. If you go to bed at the same time every night but wake up at different times in the morning, you’re throwing your whole schedule off. You should be getting around eight hours of sleep a night—give or take a few depending on the person—so make sure you aren’t oversleeping in the mornings, causing you to go to bed later in the evenings.

Turn off your TV/Computer. Many people watch TV in order to help them fall asleep, but it’s not a great idea for two reasons. One, the light from television can suppress melatonin, a hormone essential for regulating sleep. Two, TV actually stimulates the brain rather than relaxing it, making it hard to know when to fall asleep.

Keep your room dark. The darker the room, the better the sleep. Before going to sleep, dim the lights so that you’re not exposed to bright lighting right before bed. This can affect your production of melatonin. Once you’re ready to sleep, do whatever you need to do to ensure your room is pitch black: heavy drapes/blinds, covering outlets, phones and chargers—even wearing a sleep mask!