Have you ever experienced such a problem: whether it is a business trip or a trip, whenever we step into a new environment and are ready to rest, although the body is exhausted, lying on that strange soft bed, the mind is unusually clear, tossing and turning, and it is difficult to sleep? Even if we barely fall asleep, it is difficult to maintain a restful sleep, and the slightest "wind and grass" will wake up immediately.
This is what we often call the phenomenon of "recognizing the bed", and this habit has undoubtedly brought a lot of trouble to many people. So, what is it that causes us to "recognize the bed"?
"Bed recognition" is a vigilant behavior, because what we really "recognize" is not the bed, but the environment that we are familiar with. This difficulty falling asleep for the first time in an unfamiliar environment is known by experts as the "first night effect" or "first night effect." The term stems from the fact that we tend to only encounter the phenomenon of bed recognition on the first night of entering an unfamiliar environment, which essentially stems from the uneasiness and vigilance of the new environment.
Our brain is a sophisticated "instrument" that monitors changes in our surroundings and keeps us safe. When we are in an unfamiliar environment, the brain naturally goes into a state of alertness, alert to any possible danger.
This state of alertness can make it difficult for us to relax and relax, which in turn can affect the quality of our sleep. Just like a kitten, when it first arrives at a new home, it will always look around, prick up its ears to listen to the movements around it, and it is difficult to fall asleep peacefully.
In order to study the first-night effect, experts from Brown University in the United States conducted a series of sleep experiments. The results showed that on the first night, the right side of the participant's brain fell asleep normally, but the left side of the brain was more active. To further explore the cause of this phenomenon, the researchers tested participants' responses to sound.
Experiments have found that the brain almost ignores low-pitched music, but responds quickly to occasional special sounds, such as high-pitched sounds, and is more likely to wake people up. This suggests that the brain may have a nighttime surveillance system on the first night in an unfamiliar environment, making the person more alert and thus helping to avoid potential dangers. From this point of view, those who are prone to bed recognition may have a cautious temperament by nature.
How to let you have a good night's sleep?
Since bed recognition is a self-protection mechanism for the brain in the face of an unfamiliar environment, in order to alleviate this phenomenon, we need to take some means to "trick" the alert brain into knowing that it is still under our control despite the unfamiliar environment.
1
Bring your own "sleep kit"
When you're out and about, bring familiar items like your usual pillows, blankets, pajamas or scented candles with a familiar smell. It's like your own customized "sleep set" that can bring a sense of security to your brain, so that you can find a sense of home in an unfamiliar bed and enjoy a comfortable sleep.
2
Be prepared in advance
Before you travel, you may want to be a kind person and find out about the climate and accommodation conditions of your destination in advance. If possible, you can prepare accordingly based on this information. For example, if the accommodation is average, you can bring earplugs and eye masks to block out noise and light. These small preparations may be able to greatly improve your sleep quality.
3
Maintain a regular routine
Even when traveling, try to maintain your usual routine. For example, you can maintain a regular schedule and eating habits. This can lead to greater physical and mental stability and help improve sleep quality.
To sum up, "recognizing the bed" is a very normal phenomenon, as long as we find a method that suits us, we can easily deal with it. Hope we can get a good night's sleep wherever we are!