Of course! This is a revised, somewhat longer passage that has a little more flow and contemplation:
I can very clearly recall my first hotel stay by myself. The room, the city, the background sounds coming from the corridor—it all felt strange. I did what I always do at home when it was time for bed: I switched off all the lights in preparation for a peaceful night in complete darkness. At the time it seemed sense—sleep and darkness go hand in hand, don’t they? But something didn’t feel right as I laid there in the strange darkness. I was tempted to leave at least one small light on, so I kept looking toward the switch.
Before giving in and opening the bathroom door to allow a gentle glow flood the space, I must have turned the lights on and off at least three times that evening.
Since then, after years of travel and a few mishaps in unexpected rooms at weird hours, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are, in fact, some quite sensible justifications for leaving the bathroom light on while visiting a hotel. Although it can seem paradoxical, it can significantly improve safety and comfort. Of course, there are some drawbacks to take into account as well, just like anything else. Here’s a brief explanation of why you might wish to keep the light on, along with some things to consider before doing so.
Advantages of Leaving the Hotel Bathroom Light on
- Steer clear of the nighttime shuffle Have you ever attempted to navigate a dark, unknown room? It can be a true guessing game, where you might have to jam your toe into the bed frame or stumble over luggage. A gentle glow produced by leaving a light on in the restroom allows you to move around without stumbling and running the danger 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.
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 guidance without requiring them to wake up a parent.
Even in hotels, crises do occur, albeit they are uncommon. That little light can be useful if there is a need to leave quickly or if a fire alarm goes off. Having that soft light on is almost like a backup plan you didn’t know you could need because visibility can make a big difference when seconds count.
Reasons Not to Turn Off the Bathroom Light
- Could Impair the Quality of Your Sleep Despite the benefits, not everyone is a good light-bearer. Even a low bathroom light may prevent you from falling asleep if you have sensitive sleep issues. Melatonin, the hormone that promotes sound sleep, can be suppressed by light exposure, even indirect light exposure, according to research.
- 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.
- Is Able to Draw 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.