We’re brighter, better, smarter, healthier versions of ourselves when we’re well-slept. And when we’ve known the true suffering of bad sleep and the joy of waking refreshed, we’re willing to shell out for the good stuff (sleep, that is). About half of Australian adults experience poor sleep , while one in five globally complain of fatigue.
Alongside our desire for a decent kip, the knowledge that sleep is not only vital but important for every aspect of our health has led to an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Dreamy: Chiva Som resort in Thailand. Credit: You can sleep like a king on a million-dollar bed ($950,000 actually, but let’s not quibble), you can buy a $6500 mattress topper , which tackles snoring and keeps you cool.
You can buy an Apple Watch for $650 (or more) to track your sleep and tell you how bad it was. There are also smart alarms and sleep-mode air-conditioners, earbuds and rings, weighted blankets and goggles. Or you can go on a sleep retreat at one of the world’s best destination spa resorts, Thailand’s Chiva Som , for a cool $5252 a person for a three-night sleep enhancement retreat in the June to September off-season (or about $6376 in the March to May and October peaks).
It’s a place dreams are made of. Palms sway in the warm air, and exquisite Thai banquets are served, featuring produce harvested from organic farms. Personal butlers bring your favourite fruits to your room, run you a bubble bath with rose petals and prepar.