Sleep deprivation affects our hormones and has been connected with reduced sexual desire and a higher risk of erectile dysfunction, plus the possibility of more antagonism in a relationship, thanks to fatigue’s impact on our mood. However, research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that sleeping for longer related to greater next-day desire, with just one extra hour of sleep increasing the likelihood of having sex by 14 per cent.
Good sleep is also big business, with sleep tourism set to grow by $400 billion by 2028. In London, savvy hotels are pushing soporific offerings, whether that’s soundproofed rooms (The Twenty Two); a spiritual wellbeing concierge for soulful relaxation (The Mandrake); in-room spa-style baths and a complimentary meditation app (The Peninsula London), or a hypnotherapist who can head to your suite for bespoke, sleep-inducing hypnosis (Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London).
The flip side of better sleep improving your sexual wellness is that sex, conveniently, helps improve sleep, too, thanks to the release of the love hormone oxytocin and the reduction in the stress hormone cortisol.
Find inspiration in your surroundings
Of course, improving our sexual wellness is not only achieved when our eyes are closed. Travel plays a crucial role in opening up our world – the experience of awe can increase oxytocin and boost our sense of purpose, mood, self-esteem and sexual function. And awe is easy to achieve when it comes to after-dark activities in beautiful places, especially when immersed in nature, from stargazing or yoga under moonlight to an in-the-wild overnight adventure complete with cracking fire and the kindling of romance.
“We easily fall into bad habits at home, and a new setting can help you re-examine why you are in that rut and find a way out of it. We often feel freer to experiment when we are on holiday – no one is judging us for changes we make or if we fail,” says Wood. Whether you experience that transformation solo or as a couple, the results can be long-lasting, as long as you plan how to adopt your new strategies when you return.”
Prioritise quality time
The running joke among people with kids is that a holiday is the “same stress, just with a nicer view”. But for smart hoteliers courting the parent pound, extended provisions later into the night to help couples get quality time together can yield loyalty and word-of-mouth hype.
“We’re seeing a new breed of hotels stepping up to the mark, particularly in the luxury sphere,” says Becky Pennison-Bates, co-founder of Tiny Travelship, a global platform for family travel. “There’s an ever-growing number of imaginative ways children are being cared for after dark. We’ve seen the introduction of a few ‘Pyjama Clubs’, caring for tots as late as 10pm, meaning romantic meals or massages are no longer off-limits in the evening. Baby monitors are also being handed out more, especially when there’s an on-site spa to slope off to after hours. Or if you’re not comfortable leaving your children with a monitor or babysitter, you can still dine à deux, thanks to hotels offering supervised playrooms next to restaurants or in-villa private dining services once the babes are in bed.”
Do it for yourself
Of course, sexual wellness shouldn’t be reliant on another person. “Usually, if you get self-connection right, the rest follows more easily,” says Wood, who is hosting an exclusive Get Your Mojo Back Retreat at St Lucia’s adult-only StolenTime by Rendezvous resort this July. “My retreat is about reconnecting with yourself, simply because you’re a human and deserve it, as well as with others.”
