Earlier research on the first-night effect has suggested that the brain can maintain a kind of "night watch" in unfamiliar surroundings. You cannot completely convince your brain that a hotel room is your bedroom, but you can make the transition easier. A favourite pillow, blanket or even a familiar pillowcase can make a hotel room feel slightly less unfamiliar. The good news: it usually gets easierThe first-night effect can make a perfectly comfortable room feel oddly uncomfortable, but it doesn't necessarily mean you'll struggle throughout your trip. Research consistently shows that sleep in unfamiliar surroundings differs from sleep in familiar ones, and the effect generally becomes less pronounced as the environment becomes familiar.