Sleep Initiative

2021 Trends

TREND 1: Hotels shift focus to good sleep while traveling

Recent research (linked here) shows that an important predictor of hotel guest satisfaction is the guest’s ability to get a great night’s sleep during their stay. What are hotels doing today to promote restful sleep, and what else could/should they be doing to help their guests and their ratings?

TREND 2: Sleep tracking, support and coaching are on the rise

There are many sleep trackers on the market today (Apple Watch, Oura Ring, Whoop Strap, Bryte bed, etc.). What information do they provide users, and is the data consistent? What role do apps that promote meditation, mindfulness and sleep behavioral changes (Headspace, Calm, etc.) play? What should we be striving for (i.e., what does healthy sleep look like for each of us?), and is a sleep coach needed to help set goals and interpret results?

TREND 3: Exploring Cannabis to help promote restorative sleep

There’s been a marked increase in the number of THC- and CBD-based products available to consumers and marketed to improve sleep (even pillows and mattresses!), but does science support their claims?

TREND 4: Making the sleep and mental health connection

There is a bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health. We will discuss the role of the brain in sleep, explain how mental health is impacted by sleep, and share recent news on sleep and mental health in today’s world. We will also include the latest on Zoom fatigue, circadian inconsistencies, and how lack of sleep has become a global health crisis.

TREND 5: Emphasizing how hormones affect sleep

Hormonal changes can wreak havoc on sleep. In turn, sleep deprivation can affect hormone levels in a sleepless vicious cycle. How do our hormones impact our circadian rhythm (our 24-hour internal clock that controls how our body’s functions change throughout the day), and what can we do about it? And does intermittent fasting play a role in managing our hormones to manage our sleep?