IHG sleep study reveals “travelling can be challenging for our health”

A new global study released on World Sleep Day has revealed that four in five (80%) of travellers struggle to sleep when away from home. 

The study, commissioned by IHG Hotels & Resorts, coincides with World Sleep Day, an annual day devoted to tackling important sleep issues. The findings from the survey revealed that an average business traveller loses around 58 minutes of sleep each night when staying away from home — averaging just 5 hours and 17 minutes of sleep.

The biggest causes of restless sleep for those travelling are different environment (44%), unfamiliar noises (35%), and working late (35%).

“Travelling can be challenging for our health”

Dr Steven Lockley, associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, and advisor to Healthe, said: “It’s no secret that travelling can be challenging for our health, particularly when it comes to maintaining our normal sleep patterns. Light is the major environmental time cue that resets the circadian clock in our brains each day, which is easily thrown off when travelling.”

In the research, over two thirds (67%) stated they feel more tired when they are away from home. To help them sleep, nearly half either try listening to music (47%) or watching TV (45%) to try and fall asleep.

“Preserving some sense of sleep normalcy”

To counter these issues, IHG has piloted the portable JOURNI Mobile Task Light, developed by Healthe by Lighting Science, a provider of LED lighting solutions. The versatile LED task light is designed to help regulate sleep when travelling.

Dr Lockley added: “Light can also be a stimulant, directly alerting the brain, or promote sleep before bedtime, depending on the spectrum and intensity of light exposure. Having greater control of light exposure when travelling can help promote sleep at the right time or wake at the right time, preserving some sense of sleep normalcy when on the road.”