Sleeping on overnight buses changed how I deal with light

I took a long bus trip across Europe and struggled to sleep with all the streetlights flashing by. I mean, I used to rely on total darkness at home. Maybe it's just me, but I started wearing a beanie pulled down over my eyes instead of an eye mask. It blocks light better and feels less bulky in my bag. Now I pack a beanie for every trip, it's my go-to hack.

4 comments

4 Comments

paul_taylor4h ago

That beanie trick is seriously smart, never would have thought of that. Total darkness is non-negotiable for me too, just feels like the only way to properly switch off. Even a tiny bit of light from under the door or a charger can keep me wired. Your point about a hard reset after work really hits home, it's like the brain needs that full shutdown. What do you do about noise on those bus trips, or is the light the main thing?

schmidt.iris9h ago

Yeah, total darkness at home is my thing too.

caleb_bell58h ago

Prefer it always or just after work?

noah_roberts9h ago

Makes sense if your job involves lots of bright lights. After a shift under those hot kitchen fluorescents, walking into a pitch black apartment is the only way my brain resets. Even the little standby lights on electronics gotta get covered up with tape. Total silence and total dark just feels like hitting a hard reset button.