Charleston Living Magazine Nov-Dec 2023

THE LAST REFLECTION
Well-Rested Holiday Spirit
Tips on how to sleep better when you travel
By ANNE WOLFE POSTIC
The holiday season is upon us. If we’re lucky
it’ll be filled with warm moments among family
and friends, a healthy smattering of parties where
good cheer abounds and enough indulgent treats to
inspire some New Year’s resolutions. Traveling may
be part of the package and we’ll need energy to
enjoy everyone and everything as much as possible.
When I’m traveling (and overindulging), restful
sleep is key. But it isn’t always easy. Unfamiliar beds
houses full of loved ones keeping different hours,
and the urge to stay up late to enjoy all the people
and all the things can make getting a good night’s
sleep nearly impossible.
The pursuit of a restful night away from home is why I keep one little
bag near my luggage and take it on every trip, whether it’s one night
or three weeks. I don’t leave home without my allergy pillowcase, a silk
pillowcase that goes over it, and a silk sleeping mask.
The allergy case, especially for those of us who are allergic or sensitive
to dust mites, is essential. Let’s talk about dust mites. They sound
terrible. One might think that a pillow riddled with dust mites is an
indication of a dirty home or hotel. Au contraire! The little buggers are
everywhere. These microscopic critters feed on dead skin cells shed by
humans and pets. Ohio State University researchers found that dust
mites and their teeny tiny droppings can make up ten percent of the
weight of a two-year-old pillow. At home, all my pillows are encased
in allergy covers, as is my mattress. (A quick internet search for “allergy
covers” will yield a plethora of affordable options. Cover everything. It
will change your life! Many thanks to my allergist, who recommended
them to me). The first thing I do when I unpack is slap an allergy cover
on any pillow in my bed.
The second thing I do is cover that allergy case with a silk pillowcase.
Silk pillowcases make your hair shinier and help prevent those
weird creases that appear on your face after a few hours of blessed sleep.
(Are you 23 years old or younger? You probably have no idea what I’m
talking about, but you’ll see.) For ladies of a certain age, that age where
one can get over heated at night or literally any other time, silk offers
the added bonus of being somewhat cooling, especially if you flip the
pillow when you wake up in a cold sweat. But I digress. Sleeping on
silk is good for everyone. They might kill me for sharing this, but even
my sons appreciate what the slippery fabric does for their hair—less
tangles, more shine. I put them in their stockings a few Christmases
ago, assuming I’d add them to my own stash when they were inevitably
discarded. No such luck. The youngest son recently made sure to pack
his when he left for boarding school. My kids know a good thing when
they sleep on it.
The third thing in my little travel bag is a silk blend eye mask.
Blocking light is often the key to sleeping just about anywhere, especially
when crossing time zones. According to the random Amazon
merchant that sold it, mine has “copper technology,” which allegedly
offers “anti-aging benefits.” Does it? No idea, since I can’t know how
I might have aged without it. But it’s soft, comfortable, and, most importantly,
blocks out enough light to trick my brain into sleeping. If
it does a little de-puffing and slows the progress of deepening crow’s
feet, all the better. Because looking well rested makes me feel a little
more energetic.
These aren’t the only things that help you sleep in unfamiliar surroundings.
Ear plugs are nice, as are noise cancelling headphones. I do
enjoy a nice melatonin gummy before bed, because unlike other sleep
aids, it doesn’t leave me hazy in the morning. (Who wants to miss a
day of vacation wiping away the cerebral cobwebs?) But I can pick
those gummies up in almost any drug store, anywhere in the world.
My little travel bag ls less than a foot wide and packs flat, so it fits
in any size luggage, even an overnight tote. Although I use all the same
things at home, I keep doubles of them just for trips, ready at a moment’s
notice. Travel should be fun. And approaching every day with
a calm mind and fresh face will give you plenty of energy to survive a
busy holiday season, cheer intact. •
PHOTO PIXABAY
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