Traveling to other countries can often be a culture shock—the different climate, temperature, and customs can certainly make someone feel like a fish out of water. Traveling to Manila includes all of that, plus the additional bonus of an added culture: that of people who work at night. Since the office I
visit keeps American hours, they work at night. The good news is that I don’t get jet lagged since my hours only shift a little bit. The tricky part is that if you aren’t used to it, it’s not easy to sleep during the day. Even if your body is tired, if the sun is shining your mind thinks you need to be up and at ‘em. Here are the five items I use to ignore the siren call of the daytime, and go to sleep.
- Pants hangers. If the room curtains won’t close all the way, use pants hangers from the close to clip them closed. Does it look funny? You bet. Does it work, which means I don’t have to pack anything extra? Absolutely. Of course, the curtains in my room broke so while I was able to block most of the light, that top section remained stubbornly open. Luckily I had my….
- Eye mask. If you need pure darkness, you need an eye mask. Otherwise you will definitely see that stubborn bit of sunlight creeping in the bottom of the curtains.
- White noise. People just don’t think they need to be quiet during the day, so door slamming, talking, and elevator noise are extremely common.
Turning a white noise app on blocks out all but the loudest of those noises and helps you sleep like a baby. - Sleep aid. It doesn’t matter how tired I am, during the day I need the help of a Tylenol PM to get to sleep. Some people like melatonin, Ambien, or other combinations of things. Don’t be ashamed! If you know you need some pharmaceutical or herbal help, use it. That’s better than lying awake, frustrated because you haven’t rested and you have to get up in four hours.
- Do not disturb. If you don’t want to be woken by an insistently knocking housekeeper, make sure to use your do not disturb sign or light. In addition, let the front desk know that you sleep during the day and should receive no calls. They also may be able to put you in a quieter part of the hotel.
Sleeping during the day isn’t easy. The pretty day, the pool, and the fun sights to explore always beckon! But I know if I don’t get an adequate amount 
of shut-eye while on a trip I won’t be able to do my job. That’s why I’m here after all, to work. So as much fun as it would be to lie at the pool, I use these five items and get to sleep.
Readers, do you ever have to work the night shift? How do you sleep during the day?
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As for the blinds – I always keep a few binder clips handy in case the pants hangers are not there or do not come off the closet rod.
Tylenol PM is not a good long term solution. There are a number of studies that link that drug to long-term memory issues. Melatonin or Benadryl would be a better solution.
I always sleep with an eye mask and earplugs now, regardless of where I am, and as a former light sleeper it has made a tremendous difference in my sleep quality. Add melatonin or benadryl, and I’m out cold for a while. I’ve never had a problem with my alarm clock either – I always hear it despite earplugs.
Tylenol PM and Benadryl both have the active ingredient diphenhydramine(the one that makes you sleepy). Tylenol PM just has acetaminophen (the one that helps with headaches and fevers) too. For sleep aids, they are essentially the same thing.
I carry a bananna clip for my hair that does the trick on curtains. Stuff a bath towel under the crack in the door into the hallway, will help keep sound and light out of the room. Lower the temperature in the room a few degrees so the running of air conditioner will create white noise. I tip the maid, and let her know that I will be sleeping, get extra towels and pillows, just in case. Ask for a high floor when you check in- and one on opposite side from the pool, or traffic area. Don’t forget to set the dead bolt on the door.