Sleep is essential for the body biologically. A lack of quality sleep and untreated sleep problems can lead to cellular imbalances. We can experience this as an early precursor to a variety of health problems, and it can impact our general well-being, brain function, quality of life, and productivity.

The first step is to develop healthy sleeping habits. In order to accomplish this, we need to analyse the underlying factors that may be contributing to sleep problems, such as physical, physiological, environmental, lifestyle, food habits, or any other health issue relating to sleep, such as anxiety, depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, pain, anger, or overwork.

For better sleep quality, a personalised approach integrating a personalised diet, a variety of therapies in an integrated way, plant extracts, herbal concoctions, cleansing procedures like panchakarma, and movement must be carefully prescribed in a systematic manner.

Sleep tourism destinations are usually peaceful places offering comfy rooms and holistic health programs to aid people to get a nice sleep. This promotes travellers to develop healthier habits and make sleep health important.

Sleep tourism also offers its visitors a chance to be away from daily problems and pressure of work. Life is usually so busy for most people that they don’t have any opportunity to take a rest or care for themselves. While at sleep tourism destinations you can have spa treatments, meditation sessions and specialized sleep consultations. These experiences enable travellers to unwind from day-to-day life as they seek rejuvenation, which results in reduced stress and clarity of mind.

Nevertheless, some problems may arise in the context of sleep tourism. The issue of affordability is one of the challenges. These sleep tourism experiences are often expensive, particularly in high-quality resort and wellness retreats. This can render it unaffordable to some people who might want to enjoy the benefits of the drugs at a cost they can afford.

Sleep tourism also raises the issue of impact on the environment. While sleep tourism becomes more and more popular, there is a risk to implement unsustainable practices and to waste more resources. Sleep tourism operators must ensure sustainable development and implement green measures to reduce their carbon footprint.

Finally, sleep tourism is a distinct and emerging phenomenon in the field of travel which focuses upon relaxing sleep and well-being. Besides being an exercise, it also comes in handy to allow travellers avoid the hassle of work routine and concentrate on wellness. However, it comes with its own challenges of the affordability and the environmental sustainability. If these issues are responded to, then sleep tourism will continue to be an attractive choice for the people looking for revitalization and refreshment.

Wellness is defined as a state of health featuring the harmony of body, mind, and spirit, physical fitness or beauty care, healthy nutrition or diet, relaxation or meditation; mental activity, and environmental sensitivity. It is also regarded as a positive process where one can promote a positive, balanced, and optimistic outlook on life.

Speaking of warm foot baths or hot foot immersion, it is one of the time-tested, evidence-based therapies to improve the general quality of sleep, sleep onset(time taken to fall asleep), and fresher awakening as well as promote blood flow and relaxation. The more the distal-proximal gradient (difference in temperature between the proximal organs and distal parts of the body), the better the sleep quality and sleep onset. Based on this scientific mechanism, warm foot baths are very effective in the field of sleep tourism.

It is well known worldwide that yoga, defined as “Yuj” in Sanskrit, one of the oldest sciences that originated in India, is highly beneficial for general well-being as well as therapeutic in nature. Yoga also plays an immense role in the nervous system, which is one of the most deeply studied mechanisms in research. Multiple rigorous clinical trials show that yoga is highly effective in not only sleep promotion but also in reducing daytime sleepiness and irritability as well as stress reduction, thereby promoting a deep relaxation state. Yoga is also beneficial in improving daytime functioning, even in those who have not had their complete 7-8 hours of recommended sleep.

So this miraculous science helps one not only in terms of fulfilling their purpose of choosing sleep tourism but also to get back to their regular activities with better coping skills, better functioning, and a fresh, rejuvenated mind.

Acupuncture, one of the treatments opted for, was originally adopted from the Traditional Chinese Medicine system. It is a form of energy medicine where needles are pricked at specific locations called “acu points” to achieve a specific outcome. The effect of acupuncture on sleep is almost immediate, and also very profound. Current studies also state that it is as effective as taking a sedative or a sleeping pill but without the side effects associated with the same. It acts on various endocrine factors as well as neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and melatonin.

Massage has high-grade clinical evidence to promote sleep, and mood, and to maintain a positive mindset. It also reduces fatigue which is a very common complaint by the majority of our population, for which there is so specific medicine, unfortunately. But massage can help with this.

Sleep Tips

In its Travel Trends 2024 report, Skyscanner partnered with Stephanie Romiszewski, Sleep Physiologist and Founder of Re:Sleep2 to share her top tips on helping travellers to get the most restorative sleep while on holiday.

• Prep before: Get up at the same time each day to regulate your sleep/wake cycle and add light exposure and exercise to your morning routine. 
• On the plane: Block out the light and noise and maybe play some soothing rain sounds. Don’t force sleep. Let your mind wander and it’ll come if it needs to. 
• Jet lag: Eat at your new time zone mealtimes and get up at your usual wake-up time, even if you don’t want to. It’ll be short lived!
• During the trip: Focus on having the best daytime and don’t worry about sleep – it’ll help you nod off as your body realigns itself to the new normal. 

Read the full story that first appeared in Zee Zest here: