If you travel and spend the night in a strange place in a strange bed. Guess what? You will not sleep as well. No surprise. Sleep experts call this the “first night effect.” We are hardwired to be vigilant in unfamiliar surroundings. This makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. Why? When we sleep, we are more vulnerable to predators. In our society, we don’t have to worry so much about predators while we sleep. Yet, this evolutionary protective mechanism has not turned off over time.

Sleep Tip #45: Don’t fret if you suffer from the “First Night Effect.” Expect that you will not sleep as well the first night. It’s natural, normal and healthy.