Whilst a good night's sleep probably isn't your top priority while preparing for the festival season, it almost definitely should be. Once you've covered some of the things everyone considers essential before a festival: outfits, suncream, hair products and the like, it's time for you to look into how to make your adventure as pleasurable as possible: by getting some quality shut-eye.

This blog will cover everything you need to know about getting better sleep during the festival period.

Why is it important to get enough sleep at a festival?

During sleep, the body works hard to recover from the day before, supporting the function of the brain and body so that we can tackle the day as well as possible. In short, it makes us stronger, healthier and happier.

It's easy to get carried away in all of the excitement of a festival and forget to take proper care of yourself. But, getting those extra few hours of sleep can make all the difference - here are five reasons why you need to get a good night’s sleep at a festival…

1. Safety

Everyone has been in a situation where they feel fatigued throughout the day, and as a result, it’s easy to make mistakes. If your brain and body are tired, you aren't going to be as sharp as you need to be.

This would be fine in a normal situation, say, if you're spending the day relaxing at home. In a festival setting, where you're required to be coordinated through things like dancing and navigating large groups of people, accidents can happen. Getting a good night's sleep is a great way to alleviate any risk to yourself and other people over the festival weekend.

2. Physical recovery

Festivals are often a pretty busy time for the human body. With dancing, chatting and perhaps even drinking alcohol for prolonged periods, it's bound to catch up with your body without proper rest. Getting enough sleep allows festival goers to rejuvenate their muscles and feel refreshed, ready to enjoy the rest of their adventure.

3. Mental recovery

Amongst all the other benefits listed above, a lack of sleep can also affect your mental health.

It’s well known in life that lack of sleep can lead to irritability, less concentration, mood swings, and impaired decision-making abilities. By getting a good night's sleep, you enhance your well-being and enjoyment of the festival experience.

4. Immune system support

There's nothing worse than falling ill when you've made plans to explore and have fun. Getting the right amount of sleep is vital to keeping your immune system strong and healthy. When you're deprived of sleep, your immune system can weaken and you become more susceptible to illnesses and infections on your trip.

This one is especially important in a music festival scenario. You'll spend a lot of time close to other attendees, and amongst large crowds. Getting sufficient sleep can help support your immune system and reduce the risk of falling ill.

5. General enjoyment

This may be obvious, but feeling refreshed and sharp is the best way to get the most out of anything. Being well-rested allows you to fully engage in the activities. When you wake up, you'll have more energy to enjoy the music, explore the festival grounds, make special memories and seize the day!

What might stop you from sleeping at a festival?

With so much going on at a music festival, there are a number of factors that can hinder your sleeping. Just in case there are some things you haven't considered, we'll list them below and make a few suggestions for a better night's sleep.

Loud music

With music festivals, the aim of the game is to play great music to as many people as possible, and with that in mind, these environments can be quite loud for extended periods of time. This can be pretty disruptive for some of the lighter sleepers among us, so it pays to pack some earplugs to get some peace from the proceedings.

Sleeping Conditions

A lot of festivals are based in rural areas in spaces like fields, and if you aren't fortunate, you may be forced to set up your tent on uneven ground. Tent flooring often offers little-to-no protection from the ground below it, so it makes sense to bring a good pillow, strong sleeping bag, duvet and perhaps even a mattress topper to keep you cosy and help you fall asleep quickly.

Lights

It's common for festivals to have an array of light displays, and they also have to keep their areas well-lit for a large percentage of the day in order to keep visitors safe. Flashing lights can disrupt a person's cycle, and sleep disturbances affect how effectively your body recovers, so the trick is to stay asleep for the whole duration. To tackle this, we'd recommend an eye mask or sleeping mask to help people who may struggle with falling asleep in heavy or intermittent lighting,

Weather

If there's one thing British weather has taught us, it's to be ready for anything. Whether it's predicted thunderstorms or a heatwave, you've got to prepare for it all. It can be hard to fall asleep as your body heat fluctuates, so it makes sense to invest in a high-quality duvet, where you can cover yourself appropriately depending on the weather. If you're worrying about your head getting too hot, take a look at our selection of cooling pillows.

Bedding essentials for festivals

Don't worry, you won't have to take the whole house with you, but you will need some good sleeping equipment for the music festival to get the most out of your trip. Here are a few essentials to ensure you sleep soundly.

• Sleeping mat: A good quality sleeping mat will help against any uncomfortable or uneven floorings you might have to put up with at the festival.
• Pillow: A comfortable pillow will make all the difference when it comes to getting a good night's sleep, keeping your head supported as you drift off.
• Duvet: For people that would rather not have the cocoon effect of sleeping bags, a high-quality duvet will help you stay warm at night. Here at Sleepseeker, we have some fantastic coverless duvet options, for added convenience when you're on the go.
• Eye mask: Essential for light sleepers, an eye mask will protect your eyes against any flashing or changes in lights, helping you maintain a deep sleep on your trip. 
• Sleeping bag: Ideal for colder scenarios, a sleeping bag will keep all of the heat circulating around your body, fighting against any cold pinches in the night.

Here at Sleepseeker, we provide the highest quality sleeping equipment to make your life easier. And that’s not all, sustainability is a core element of our identity, with 95% of our products manufactured here in the UK as sustainably as possible.

If you want to learn some more about how to get a better night's sleep, take a look at our blog.

More top tips for festival sleeping

Whilst it's important to have the right sleeping equipment, here are a few tips you can try to help yourself even further when you're trying to sleep comfortably and feel refreshed at music festivals.

• Podcasts: There are some amazing podcasts that encourage relaxation, whilst blocking out other noise and helping you drift away. Check out our sleepy podcasts blog post for some inspiration.
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water in order to keep yourself energised and happy throughout the day. Dehydration can also hinder your sleep in a number of ways, so it's important to stay topped up.
• Find a good spot: If you're a lighter sleeper, it'll benefit you to arrive at the festival early and pick out a good spot in relation to the rest of the entertainment and terrain.
• Invest in an airbed: Can you take an air bed to a festival? In most cases: yes, but check in advance. If you can bring an air bed, you'll be living like royalty. Combine that with one of our fantastic mattress toppers and you'll consider living in a tent all year round!