The comfort of my bed: Why I can't sleep well elsewhere

This week, I happen to be out of the country and away from home. As I lay in this unfamiliar hotel bed, surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and smells, this time too I find myself yearning for the comfort of my own home.
It is not just always the mattress and the beddings. It is the entire ecosystem of my bedroom, the one place where I can truly relax and let my guard down.
When I am at home, I can sleep like a baby. I know exactly how to position myself on the mattress, which pillow to use and when to kick off the blankets.
But take me out of my element and I am a different person. The hotel room bed feels too firm, the pillows too flat, the air too stale.
Every little noise is amplified, every creak and groan a jolt to my system. I toss and turn, trying to get comfortable, but it is just not happening.
It is not just about the physical comfort, though. It is about the emotional security of being in my own space.
At home, I know where everything is, I know what to expect and I feel in control. Away from home, everything is uncertain and my brain is on high alert, scanning for potential threats throughout the nights.
I know I am not alone in this. Many people struggle to sleep well in new environments, whether it is a hotel room, a friend's house, or a camping tent. It is like our brains are hardwired to associate sleep with a specific set of circumstances and when those circumstances change, our sleep suffers.
So what is the solution? For me, it's about recreating the comforts of home, even when I am away. Bringing a familiar pillow or blanket, using earplugs and an eye mask and trying to establish a consistent bedtime routine can all help.
It is funny how our brains latch onto these tiny details, isn't it? Maybe I will try bringing a familiar pillow next time I am away because by bringing a piece of home can ease the transition.
Hotel pillows can be a real sleep-killer. I find them having a different firmness, material, or loft that can be jarring to your neck and head.
Also, there is always lack of personal touch. Your pillow at home is, well, yours. You've got it just right and hotel pillows just can't compete. You might be a side-sleeper at home, but the hotel pillow's design might not accommodate that.
But honestly — nothing beats my own bed, in my own home, with my own pillows and blankets.
Until I can get back home soon, I will just have to suffer through these sleepless nights, dreaming of the comforts