It isn’t always easy getting the sleep you need when traveling, but did you know, what you drink could be sabotaging your rest? Summer is the time to enjoy a relaxing vacation, and that may mean sampling different wines or beers as you travel the globe. Here are a few tips to make sure wine and other beverages don’t rob you of the sleep you need to stay energized during your vacation.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a known sleep-pattern disrupter (Sleep). The key to making sure the wine or other alcoholic drink doesn’t disrupt your sleep is to know how it works and when drinking disrupts sleep. Wine often makes people feel sleepy, but while it can help a person get to sleep, it doesn’t help with quality rest. “In fact, alcohol may actually interrupt your circadian rhythm by affecting levels of chemicals that tell your body when it’s time to sleep or wake up” (Sleep). This means that while a few drinks can help you pass out, it also means waking up frequently during the night. If you’re traveling, this can really put a dent in your energy for the next day.

Caffeine

Caffeine is known for causing jitters or little bursts of energy and restlessness. Many teas, coffees, tea, and sodas have caffeine in them and are great for chasing away that grogginess in the morning. While the morning is a great time for caffeine, it isn’t so great in those afternoon beverages. “Caffeine has a half-life of about 6 hours, meaning if you sip a latte at 4 p.m., half of the caffeine will still be in your system at 10 p.m” (Sleep).

Soda / Cola

Soda is a common source of bloating. Even if you find a caffeine free soda, that sugary and carbonated beverage can still influence your sleep. The carbonation in particular causes bloating, stomach pressure, and can trigger heartburn (Sleep). This phenomenon is known as “gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD” and is known for flaring up at night (Sleep). As you can imagine, this makes it particularly difficult to not only fall asleep but also feel rested the next morning.

If alcohol, caffeine, and soda or cola disrupt sleeping, then what does work? If you’re looking for something other than water to drink, try a caffeine-free herbal tea. Not only can this be a relaxing ritual before bed, locating local blends can also be adventurous when you are traveling.

-Quit Counting Sheep…Sleep with a Wolf!

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Sources:

Sleep Foundation. “Beverages to avoid to sleep soundly while traveling.” National Sleep Foundation, https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/beverages-avoid-sleep-soundly-while-traveling. Accessed 28 May 2018.