I’m a pretty light sleeper, so it’s taken me years to figure out how to get a decent night’s sleep in a hotel. When I was working as a flight attendant, and even now when I travel for business, falling asleep can be a huge struggle for me. My husband, on the other hand, can zonk out anywhere on a moments notice. It’s seriously enviable! Over the years I’ve learned a few things to help minimize sleepless nights in hotel rooms.

1. Use a Closet Hanger

Say what? Have you ever been in a hotel room where the curtains don’t quite shut all the way and a little sliver of light finds its way right into your eyes?! Grab a hanger or two from the closet and attach the clips to both of the curtains to keep them tightly closed.

2. Check the Hotel Alarm Clock

I have vivid memories of my hotel alarm clock going off at 2:30am set by the person who spent the previous night in my room. I now always check that the hotel alarm clock is not on before I go to bed. Learn from my mistake and do the same!

3. Set a Backup Alarm

Whether you request a wake-up call, use your cell phone, or set the hotel alarm clock, it’s always nice to have a backup alarm. I’ve tossed and turned in bed worrying about whether my alarm would go off for an early flight or meeting. Setting two alarms seems to put my mind at ease.

4. Turn on White Noise

Hotel hallways, elevators, thin walls, and adjoining rooms have the potential to make your room noisy. I like to have some white noise in the room to drown out anything that might wake me up in the middle of the night. I’ll usually turn on the room or bathroom fan and that does the trick. If those aren’t options, I have an app on my phone where I can listen to the ocean and drift off to sandy destinations.

5. Stay Off Your Electronics!!!!!

I’m guilty of pulling out my laptop or looking up things on my cell phone while I’m winding down in bed. Don’t do it! For whatever reason, those devices keep your mind alert and awake. Reading a book, magazine, or even a kindle are better options to get you sleeping quickly.

Hope this helps some of you light sleepers out there!

xo, Jenny