what is sleep wellness and why is sleep important?

‘Sleep wellness’ is an area of health that’s gaining more momentum – and far from being a wellness trend, our collective interest in getting a good night’s sleep isn’t going anywhere.

Sleep, of course, is nothing new. But culturally, we are starting to remember that quality sleep is as fundamental to our wellbeing as eating, breathing and hydrating. The quality of our sleep affects everything from our moods and ability to focus to our immune system and hormone regulation.

Let’s explore the growing world of sleep wellness and why good sleep matters in the first place.

what is ‘sleep wellness’?

‘Sleep wellness’ is the name for the practice of taking steps towards better sleep. The last few years have seen a boom in bed technology, sleep gadgets (for example, sleep trackers), supplements and accommodation all aimed at helping improve our slumber.

Sleep wellness doesn’t have to be complicated, however – there are some simple sleep hygiene practices we can all follow such as avoiding blue light, big meals, intense exercise, caffeine and alcohol for a couple of hours before bedtime.

Instead, we can implement a nourishing night time wind-down routine: think herbal tea, relaxing yoga poses, meditation, journalling, reading and taking a warm bath or shower.

why is sleep important?

When we’re busy and short on time, cutting into our sleeping hours can seem like a logical solution. Yet while reducing sleep might give us more hours in the day, sleep deprivation makes us less alert and less productive during those hours.

As sleep scientist Matthew Walker writes in his book Why We Sleep, regularly getting fewer than six hours of sleep a night can wreak havoc on our immune system, blood sugar levels, heart health, appetite, gut health and mental state.

Sleep also helps us process emotions and ready us psychologically for the following day. This partly happens through dreams, which allow us to explore a range of human experiences from the safety of our beds.

Matthew Walker’s research into sleep has made him such a passionate sleep advocate that he believes doctors should prescribe sleep in the same way they prescribe medicine.

how do peninsula hot Springs' eco lodges help facilitate sleep?

Even for those of us who value sleep and adore getting some quality shut-eye, sleep can be elusive. Demands such as full-time work and child-rearing can lead to us feeling tired, yet wired when we lie down at night.

Our new Eco Lodges are an environment that encourages deep rest. From ambient lighting, a calming colour palette and essential oil diffusers to in-room rest rituals and private baths or hot springs, we have researched the most essential components for sleep and implemented these into our new accommodation.

The Eco Lodges offer guided meditation and restful yoga for guests to practise as part of their wind-down routine, and our exceptionally comfortable king-sized beds are adorned with soft, luxurious linen perfect for a night of restorative sleep. Guests can fall asleep in the serenity of nature and awake to the sound of birds and frogs.

To ensure guest comfort, the rooms feature split-system heating and cooling as well as underfloor geothermal heating.

Accommodation guests can also enjoy in-room dining and experience our S.L.O.W (seasonal, local, organic, whole) food menu that is just as nourishing as it is indulgent. Our menu features plenty of foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin and melatonin (our mood and sleep hormones), as well as herbal teas that help us wind down.

staying overnight at peninsula hot springs

Your journey to deep rest begins as soon as you arrive at Peninsula Hot Springs. Our bathing areas feature a wide array of rituals designed to both rejuvenative and relax.

As you wander our Bath House and Spa Dreaming Centre you will come across a collection of open-air geothermal mineral pools, saunas in various styles, massaging showers, hammocks, relaxation domes and an abundance of other experiences inviting you to pause and unwind in nature.

You will also be able to retreat to the private hot spring or geothermal bath attached to your Eco Lodge. Research shows that a warm bath before bed helps draw heat away from our core, which signals to the body that it’s time to sleep.

Eco Lodge accommodation includes all-of-site bathing, a buffet breakfast in our Spa Dreaming Centre dining room and a wellness activity of your choice (choose from yoga or our Fire and Ice Workshop) – and our Eco Lodge, Dine & Bathe package can be booked to include dinner as well.

Naturally, accommodation packages can be tailored to suit your preferences and additional experiences such as spa treatments are available for an enhanced stay with us.

Whether you’re feeling burnt out from leading a busy life or simply want to honour sleep as a pillar of wellness, our Eco Lodges provide the scaffolding for a night of deep rest. You can learn more about our Eco Lodges here.