What’s the one thing on every teacher’s first week of summer plans? Sleep. And as much of it as we can get.
But what if we dedicated time throughout the year to prioritize and catch up on our much-needed sleep? Enter the new trend: sleep vacations, or sleepcations.
What’s a sleepcation, and why do teachers need one?
The concept of a sleep vacation is simple. Instead of jetting off to a busy city and following a jam-packed itinerary, guests check into a quiet hotel, put their phone on Do Not Disturb, and focus on one thing and one thing only: sleep.
Teachers are nonstop hustlers. We are grading the papers. We’re attending the super-important meetings that should’ve been emails. Making ancient history exciting and geometry downright fun. Coaching the teams. Running the clubs. Stocking the tissues and tying the shoes. We are keeping the peace.
And we are doing this all on just a little bit of shut-eye (and a whole lot of coffee).
Teachers, it’s time to slow down. It’s time to lay down. It’s time for a good night’s sleep.
More than that, it’s time for a sleep vacation, also known as a sleepcation.
Because unlike a typical vacation, which may leave you more tired than when you started, a sleepcation is about reclaiming your rest. And you really do need to rest to be your best self.
The dreamiest sleep vacation experiences for teachers
Because you do not need a single other “to-do” on your lengthy list, we will make this super easy.
There are a slew of hotels that specialize in sleep tourism. From ultra-fancy-shmancy hotels that will pull out all the stops to ensure you get the deepest, most restorative rest of your life, to budget-friendly hotels that offer a mix of cozy sleep-in, stay-awhile options. There are hotels in faraway places where you can bet no one will find you, and there are places near home where you can sneak off for a blissful, uninterrupted snooze.
Here are a few of our favorites to get you started.
Westin Hotels and Resorts
Westin has developed a wellness program that emphasizes a good night’s sleep. It begins with their Heavenly Bed. Along with a temperature-regulating interior, this modern marvel has a plush topper that cocoons your body. Every guest is gifted with the Sleep Well Lavender Balm and encouraged to massage the sleep-inducing oil on their temples and wrists before bedtime. Finally, some hotels even offer a Sleep Well Menu, which includes sleep-enhancing superfoods and drinks.
Sleep Inn Hotel’s Designed to Dream Locations
This budget-friendly option doesn’t disappoint. Sleep Inn has developed its Designed to Dream locations to feel like a calming oasis, incorporating nature-themed designs, warm colors, and plush furnishings. Guests can also count on a full hot breakfast buffet, a fitness center, and a pool during their sleep vacation.
Stay Well by Delos
Delos, a pioneer in designing wellness environments, has partnered with multiple hotels across the country to develop rooms that offer a holistic wellness experience, focusing on a good night’s sleep. Amenities at these locations include access to Deepak Chopra’s guided meditations, aromatherapy, night lighting, dawn simulators, online access to Cleveland Clinic’s life-changing wellness programs, and so much more. Staying in a Stay Well room is like taking a self-care retreat; honestly, we think it should definitely be considered professional development at its finest.
The Four Seasons
Beyond the extra amenities like lavender-infused sleep masks and bedtime tea (available upon request), the Four Seasons’ exceptional mattresses are what really sets this luxurious hotel chain apart. Fifty years of consulting with guests and sleep experts led to the Four Seasons Bed, designed by Simmons. The bed comes with three different mattress toppers: Signature Firm, Signature, and Signature Plush. It is draped with 300-count cotton linens, down pillows, and a duvet. Additionally, soundproof rooms with blackout drapes mean a tranquil space for sleeping. Request the turndown service to have a staff member expertly prepare your room for the best night’s sleep of your life. Check out the specialized sleep services that individual Four Season hotels offer too. For example, at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, guests can experience The Sacred Nap, a guided “air nap” in a silk hammock.
How to take a sleepcation … without leaving home!
Sometimes escaping to a hotel is not in the financial or time budget—we get it. But there are a few things that you can do at home to make your bedroom feel super dreamy. Here is our easy recipe for a staycation sleepcation.
Aromatherapy
Light a lavender-scented candle in your bedroom. My favorite is the Threshold Calm Candle from Target. It’s a soothing medley of lavender and sage. Sandalwood or chamomile are also fragrances linked to relaxation.
Read a bedtime story
There is something so meditative about reading before bed. Sometimes, the right book can put its reader to sleep very quickly. Check out the very cheeky and yet highly effective This Book Will Put You to Sleep. Filled with illustrations of sheep to count, this storybook is full of only the most dull and useless information—readers are guaranteed to be dozing in minutes.
Make a dreamy drink
Chamomile tea or warm milk with honey are the perfect pre-bedtime drinks. They pair well with cozy flannel jammies and plush pillows. My favorite chamomile tea is Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime. There is just something about that dozing bear on the box that signals slumber in my brain.
Take a warm bubble bath
Light some candles, turn down the lights, play some meditation music, and slip into a warm bath filled with bubbles. It’s the perfect way to relax the senses into a calm state before bed. I love adding Dr. Teal’s Sleep Foaming Bath with melatonin to my tub. The soft bubbles wrap you in the most lovely lavender and chamomile scent.
Create your own turndown service
Before heading to bed, set up the space for sleep. Close the curtains and dim the lights. Pull back the covers and fluff the pillows. Play soft music, set out pajamas, and light a candle. Treat yourself like the royalty you are because you deserve it!
No matter where you lay your head, sleep well, teachers. You’ve earned it.