Sleeping outside gets a bad rap for being uncomfortable. You leave your plush bed at home for a completely new setting. No one enjoys camping if they don’t get a good night’s rest. We’ve put together some tips and tricks for getting good zzz’s at night.
GET A FULL DAY IN
One great way to ensure a great night’s rest is to make sure that you actually get tired throughout the day.
Hike. Bike. Climb. Paddle. Play.
Get a full day’s worth of activities in before heading to bed. It’s fairly easy to do fun activities while camping, so use every single bit of time you have.
Use up your body’s energy so that it has no choice but to recharge once your head hits the pillow.
HAVE A FULL STOMACH
Remember Thanksgiving? And how exhausted you feel after you have lots of yummy food in your belly. A full belly makes you tired. Make sure to take in the calories after a long day of playing outside.
To be specific, make sure you amp up the protein when planning out your meals. In order to gain the benefits of amino acids like tryptophan (the amino acid that makes you sleepy after a Thanksgiving meal), you need to make sure you are consuming protein-rich and nutrient-dense foods.
Try making things like stew, tin foil dinners, and pasta to replace carbs and stock up on protein. Having a stomach full of nutrients will help your brain increase serotonin levels, which leads to a more restful sleep.