Festival Sleep Survival: 5 Tips from a Sleep Expert Heading to Glastonbury
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According to research, roughly 6.5 million people in the UK attend music festivals every year, roughly around 10% of the British population.
However, many attendees face a familiar challenge which could jeopardise how enjoyable the experience will be; getting a good night’s sleep.
Dr Deborah Lee from Doctor Fox has partnered with Bed Factory Direct to give five helpful tips to anyone looking to get a good night’s sleep at a festival this year:
1. Sleeping pad or air bed
“A supportive sleeping surface can dramatically reduce discomfort at a festival. More often than not, the ground can be uneven which, not only is it not great for your sleep, but it may lead to body and spinal discomfort the next day, making dancing around to your favourite artist that little bit harder.
Taking a sleeping bag to travel light is the typical option, but you should prioritise your sleep as a first-port-of-call by making a bit of extra room for a blow-up air bed.”
2. Bring earplugs and an eye mask
“While you may want to get an early night when the music switches off, there may be many people around your campsite who will be keen to keep the night going, derailing your sleep. Earplugs can help block out sounds – these will be even better if your campmate is a snorer!
Meanwhile, sunrise is getting earlier, which is great when you have blackout curtains, however a lot of low-quality tents will let the light stream through as soon as the sun wakes up. Investing in a soft eye mask will block LED camp lights as well as early morning sunrise, allowing you to snooze that extra bit longer.”
3. Create a sleep ritual – even when you’re camping!
“The term ‘sleepmaxxing’ is something we’re seeing trending at the moment, with currently X views on TikTok around this.
Maintaining a consistent schedule by getting into your designated sleep clothes, ensuring you brush your teeth and take your make-up off and spending a few minutes relaxing and deep breathing before bed will help signal to your brain that it’s time to relax and help block out the fact that you’re in an unfamiliar environment.”
4. Temperature control
“While the days can be warm, nights can often get colder. Ensuring that you pack layers for the evening including warm socks, lightweight thermal blankets and moisture-wicking base layers can help your temperature throughout the night not drop too low.
Don’t forget that the optimal temperature to get to sleep is 17 degrees – the UK Summer weather can drop to around 10 degrees at night.”
5. Choose your campsite wisely
When you’re booking your campsite, pay attention to where the toilets are, main stages are and other events going on around you. You don’t want to be too close to any of these as these are things that could stop you from getting some shut eye.
Pick a quieter spot if possible and set your tent up so that the door is facing away from any noise and anyone walking around after hours.”
