What’s the first thing you should unpack when you move into a new place?
Your old pillow. According to Brown University researchers, using a familiar pillow helps the brain relax. And that’s important because when we’re in new surroundings, our brain automatically stays on high alert for danger. There’s even a name for it: The First Night Effect. And it was discovered 50 years ago by clinical psychologists at Ohio State University.
But the feel and even the smell of your old familiar pillow can cancel your brain’s hyper-vigilance, allowing you to calm down and get some sleep. So unpack your pillow first… and when your child goes on their first sleepover, have them take their own pillow.