Always Keep the Bathroom Light On When Sleeping in a Hotel

I recall my very first hotel stay by myself. The hotel room was new, located in a new city, filled with unfamiliar noises—everything felt different.

I automatically turned off all the lights as I prepared to go to bed, anticipating a night in total darkness. It made sense, as sleep and darkness are inherently linked. Nevertheless, I was tempted to leave a little light on that night and found myself reaching for the light switch multiple times.

Since then, I’ve learned why, despite its apparent paradox, leaving the bathroom light on in a hotel may be quite helpful.

I’ve learned that there are good reasons for this advice, as well as the occasional drawback, after years of travel and a few late-night accidents.

Here is a brief primer explaining why you might wish to leave the hotel bathroom light on and some things to think about before turning it off.

Advantages of Leaving the Hotel Bathroom Light on

Steer clear of the nighttime shuffle.

Have you ever attempted to navigate a dark, unknown room? Navigating a dark, unknown room can be a challenging task, as you may find yourself stumbling over luggage or jamming your toe into the bed frame.

A gentle glow produced by leaving a light on in the restroom allows you to move around without stumbling and running the risk of minor injuries. To minimize that excruciating toe-stubbing, it’s similar to installing a soft nightlight that gently directs you when necessary.

Stress Reduction in Novel Settings

A little light can help you feel more at ease, even if you’re the type of person who does best in unfamiliar environments. Hotels can have a lot of noise from elevators, hallways, and occasionally even the street below.

I find that the bathroom light provides a minimal level of comfort when it is turned on. Particularly if you’re by yourself or if you’re a light sleeper who gets easily startled by sudden sounds,

that gentle glow provides a sense of security. It’s a simple, discrete method of reducing feelings of isolation in a strange space.

Getting Used to Various Time Zones

Jet lag relief is one of the surprising benefits of leaving the bathroom light on. A tiny, steady light can be grounding when you’re switching time zones,

allowing your body to gradually acclimate to its new day and night cycles. Your first few nights of sleep in a new location go a little more smoothly since it acts as a gentle reminder to your internal clock.

Making Things Easy for Friends or Children

A little bathroom light can make overnight bathroom excursions much more convenient if you’re traveling with family, friends, or a significant other.

The bathroom light provides children, who may be apprehensive in the dark, with a short guideline without requiring them to wake up a parent.

It’s particularly practical if you’re sharing a room with pals, allowing you to navigate your way around without waking each other up or fumbling for light switches.

An Additional Safety Measure for Emergencies

Even in hotels, crises do occur, albeit they are uncommon. That small amount of light can be useful in the event of a fire alarm going off or if there is a need to evacuate swiftly.

Keeping that soft light on serves as a backup plan you might not realize you need, as visibility can significantly impact your safety when every second matters.

One disadvantage of leaving the bathroom light on is that it may interfere with your ability to sleep.

1.Might Disrupt Your Sleep Quality

Despite the benefits, not everyone is a positive light-bearer. Even a low bathroom light may prevent you from falling asleep if you have sensitive sleep issues.

Research suggests that light exposure, even indirect light exposure, can suppress melatonin, the hormone that promotes sound sleep. In the event that you have ever had trouble falling back asleep after waking up, that bathroom light may cause more problems than it solves.

It increases energy consumption.

For good reason, hotels frequently encourage eco-friendly practices like recycling towels or using less power.

It does take a little more energy to keep a light on all night. Even if it’s only a tiny bathroom light, you might feel a bit bad about leaving it on if you care about the environment.

This phenomenon attracts bugs to warmer climates.

Bugs are drawn to lights in several regions of the world, particularly those with warm or tropical temperatures.

Insects can enter certain older hotels through small openings. Although it’s uncommon in tightly sealed hotel rooms, it’s something to consider if you’re in an area where insects could find a source of light.

Getting the Most Out of Hotel Bathroom Lighting

Here are some useful pointers if, like me, you like the concept of leaving the bathroom light on but wish to steer clear of its disadvantages.

Bring a lamp.

Think about bringing a tiny nightlight with you rather than depending on the restroom light. They are inexpensive and hardly occupy any room.

Additionally, they offer the ideal amount of glow without being as bright as a typical light. Place it wherever you need it most.

Use the bathroom door to control the light.

To regulate how much light enters the space, adjust the bathroom door.

You can achieve a softer, more diffused radiance by leaving the door slightly open. In this manner, the light is beneficial without being distracting.

If at all possible, utilize a diffuser or dimmer.

A quick fix for an overly bright bathroom light is to drape a hand towel over the door or, if you have one, bring a small dimmer.

You can generate a comfortable glow that won’t disrupt your sleep by lowering the brightness.

I’ve developed the practice of leaving the bathroom light on while I’m in a hotel. Finding a balance, such as adjusting the bathroom door or utilizing a nightlight, is crucial if you’re a light-sensitive sleeper.