Whether it’s the demands of parenting, the temptation to binge-watch a new series, or the weight of stress and anxiety, many of us are sleep deprived. Research shows that roughly one in three adults don’t get enough rest, leaving them tired, irritable, and mentally foggy the next day. That’s when some people resort to “sleepcations,” a getaway focused on sleep and rejuvenation.
From where I stand behind the pharmacy counter, this trend makes clinical sense. Every day, I counsel patients who are chronically sleep-deprived due to stress, shift work, caregiving responsibilities, or excessive screen time. Poor sleep contributes to hypertension, impaired glucose control, weight gain, reduced immunity, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. At first, many people reach for over-the-counter sleep aids, but they often need their physician’s intervention to achieve restorative sleep hygiene and a true mental reset.
While a few nights of extra sleep during your sleepcation won’t erase long-term sleep debt, uninterrupted rest can reduce acute fatigue and stress. As a pharmacist, I see sleep not as a luxury, but as foundational therapy. If a planned getaway helps patients reestablish healthier sleep patterns, that investment in rest may ultimately yield better cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health outcomes.
By Daria Horbal, BSc. Phm.
