etting enough sleep while traveling is key to having a great vacation. But for many of us, that’s easier said than done. From pre-vacation jitters and cramped airlines to jet lag, traveling can seem like it’s setting us up for many hours of lost sleep.

Even if you’ve tried every trick in the book to sleep better while traveling, you may still have a troublesome night or two—and that’s completely normal. But getting stressed out about the situation will only make it harder for you to drift off. So instead of ruminating about all the ways that travel is disrupting your sleep, keep in mind that you’re probably doing lots of things on your trip that actually promote sleep, said Dr. Samina Ahmed Jauregui, a sleep psychologist and advisor to Pluto Pillow, at the National Sleep Month event.

Medicine’s Samina Ahmed Jauregui discussed the negatives of tracking sleep patterns

GQ Magazine:

Samina Ahmed Jauregui, assistant professor at the School of Medicine, discussed the frustrations associated with wearable sleep trackers.

“You get this device: It’s supposed to help you figure out what’s going on,” she said. “Then, it can work against you, potentially reinforcing a faulty belief system.

You think ‘I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m going to have a bad day’—but what if you didn’t know that? Would you have the same attitude?”

If you sleep next to a loving partner every night or consistently over time, their presence can also ease your transition into sleep for the simple fact that you’ve become used to it, says sleep psychologist Samina Ahmed Jauregui, PsyD, advisor to Pluto Pillow. “Routine and consistency is key for good sleep.”

Just imagine what your ancestors would think of these speedy travels! But there's a downside to rapid transportation: jet lag. You may also experience GI issues (sleep and poop are linked, after all) or menstrual changes due to jet lag, says sleep psychologist Samina Ahmed, PsyD, an advisor to Pluto Pillow.

A good night’s sleep is important to your health in so many ways. It can give you more energy and cognitive clarity, help you fight off sickness, and put you in a better mood. Sticking to a consistent bedtime routine and practicing good sleep hygiene can set you on the right path, however, sleeping on the wrong mattress can foil even your best efforts at achieving some quality shut-eye.

Samina Ahmed, PsyD, a sleep advisor at Pluto, tells us that according to the ISPA Sleep Council, old mattresses can host a multitude of organisms which may contribute to diseases or sensitivities. “If mattresses are not cleaned or aired out regularly, they may accumulate dust and bacteria which can contribute to issues with sleep quality and breathing,” Dr. Ahmed says.

Getting a good night’s sleep is critical to your overall physical health and mental well-being. If you lie awake at night next to a snoring partner or frequently wake yourself up snoring, you’re probably not a stranger to looking for any solution that will offer some relief. The good news is there are pillows for snorers.

We enlisted the help of sleep experts to offer their advice on the best products to stop snoring. But snoring could be the result of a serious medical condition. “If you start waking up feeling unrefreshed and experience excessive drowsiness or lethargy throughout the day, it’s time to see your doctor,” urges Samina Ahmed Jauregui, PsyD, a psychologist in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at University Hospitals in Ohio.

As you look ahead to 2022, consider ‘sleep’ to be a top goal. We checked in with experts on why you need sleep + how to get more of it.

We all know what it’s like to power through a workday after a restless night of little to no sleep. And yet, it’s tough to prioritize this part of our health. However, the more we invest in our rest, the better we will feel — and the better we will perform at work and show up for our relationships. According to Samina Ahmed Jauregui, a sleep psychologist and advisor to Pluto Pillow, there’s no way around it: sleep is an essential pillar of wellness.