Why It's Hard to Fall Asleep in a New Place — Scientists Find an Explanation

The article explains the 'first-night effect' — difficulty falling asleep in unfamiliar surroundings. The brain maintains heightened alertness, causing people to sleep 20–30 minutes less. Researchers Anna Wick and Ahmed Mayeli attribute this to an evolutionary protective mechanism. The effect is stronger in children, adolescents, and the elderly. Not all sleep disturbances are linked to this effect; travel, noise, light, and relationships also play a role. For some, a new place actually helps them sleep. Tips include maintaining a routine, bringing familiar items, and keeping the room dark and cool.

The article explains why it's hard to fall asleep in unfamiliar surroundings, linking it to the 'first-night effect' — a natural brain mechanism that maintains heightened alertness during sleep in a new place. Research shows that on average, people sleep 20–30 minutes less in a new environment, and brain regions associated with deep sleep remain more active. Anna Wick, a senior sleep researcher at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, calls this an adaptive response, while Ahmed Mayeli, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh, compares it to dolphins, where part of the brain stays awake during sleep. The effect is stronger in children, adolescents, and the elderly, and weaker in people around 20 years old. The evolutionary hypothesis suggests that the brain learned to be cautious in unfamiliar places that might have been dangerous in the past. However, not every sleep disturbance in a new place is linked to this effect — travel, changes in routine, noise, light, temperature, and relationships also play a role. For some people, a new environment actually helps them sleep, especially if they are tired or if home is associated with insomnia. Anxious people are more susceptible. Tips: maintain a regular routine, arrive early, bring a familiar item, keep the room dark, quiet, and cool, avoid screens, and imagine a calm place.