Hard to Sleep during the Homecoming Journey? Here is a Practical Solution from the Minister of Health

Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin shares tips for sleeping in rest areas (Photo: Instagram/@bgsadikin)

JAKARTA - Quality of rest is an important factor to maintain driver safety during the homecoming trip. Aware that many drivers have trouble sleeping when stopping at rest areas, the Minister of Health (Menkes) Budi Gunadi Sadikin shares tips to quickly fall asleep and wake up in good condition.

Short naps or power naps are very important to maintain focus and prevent fatigue while driving. This activity is generally aimed at resting the body for a moment and refreshing the mind.

The Minister of Health emphasized the importance of creating a comfortable condition before resting. One way is to keep turning on the car engine and opening a few windows so that the air circulation in the vehicle remains smooth.

"We need to arrange the position as comfortably as possible so that we can sleep," said Budi, quoted from the Instagram video upload @bgsadikin on Friday, March 20, 2026.

In addition, the 61-year-old man suggested using the 4-7-8 breathing technique to help speed up the sleep process.

"There is a 4-7-8 breathing method that can help you fall asleep faster," he explained.

This method aims to calm the nervous system so that the body is more relaxed and easy to enter the sleep phase. Here are the steps:

- Breathe in (4 seconds): Take a slow breath through your nose for four seconds.

- Hold your breath (7 seconds): Hold your breath for seven seconds.

- Exhale (8 seconds): Slowly exhale through your mouth for eight seconds.

This step can be repeated about four times until the body feels more relaxed and finally falls asleep. Budi also recommends a short sleep duration of about 15-30 minutes so that the body is refreshed.

"It's enough to sleep 15 to 30 minutes so that the body is recharged and ready to continue the journey." he added.

With a short but effective rest, it is hoped that drivers can return to concentrate and have enough energy to continue the journey until they arrive safely.