New research confirms that stresses about money are negatively impacting women’s sleep, but instead of saving up, they’re headed on holiday in search of rest and answers
Money is on everyone’s mind, and it’s impacting our sleep. Ahead of World Sleep Day 2025, a ton of new research has confirmed that money stress is keeping Brits up at night. Women in particular are having trouble drowning out their worries to get a good night’s rest, and the solution seems to be to simply pack up and leave.
According to new research from Puka Herbs UK , over two-thirds (68%) of women aged 25-44 are struggling to get good sleep. The three biggest factors reported as the cause of sleeplessness include: overthinking (50%), work stress (38%) and money worries (30%).
Backing up this data, a recent survey conducted by the travel booking service Kayak confirmed that a staggering 86% of Brits are feeling burnt out, citing money as the number one stressor keeping them up at night (36%).
The jury is out, we can’t sleep and money stress is a big reason why. But could a change of scenery be the cure?
According to Kayak’s data, Brits are so desperate to improve their sleep that more than half (54%) confirm they are willing to spend more money on a ‘sleepcation’ focused on rest and improving sleep quality than a standard holiday. In fact, Kayak’s research purports that holiday priorities have shifted so significantly that one in four Brits (26%) are already booking sleepcations to help them recharge.
Dr. Jason Ellis, Professor of Sleep Science at Northumbria University, confirms: “It’s clear from KAYAK’s new research that we are sleep deprived as a nation. ‘Sleepcation’ holidays can be a great way to pay off some of the ‘sleep debt’ we experience in daily life, so it helps to think ahead before you book a break designed around rest and relaxation.”
Sleep tourism has been on a steady rise since last summer, and is set to dominate the 2025 travel season. But sleep tourism isn’t simply about escapism or seeking majestic scenery and a comfy hotel bed to quiet our minds.
In addition to paying off their sleep debt, sleep-seeking tourists want to understand how to optimise their sleep quality long-term. Women in particular are prioritising sleep retreats and dedicated sleep hotels when planning travel.
As a result, hotels are investing heavily in sleep tourism, creating sleep therapy packages and recruiting dedicated sleep experts—aka “sleep concierges”—to service and advise guests.
Multi-day sleep retreats in scenic locales like the Sussex countryside are also growing in popularity, despite being quite costly. Retreats can include services like in-depth sleep assessments from a doctor, yoga and meditation lessons and sleep science lectures.
While it may seem counterintuitive to spend money on travel and sleep retreats when financial stress is what keeps most Brits awake at night, it is a stark indication of how desperate we all are for a good night’s rest.
Then again, should sleep really be considered such a luxury? Maybe not, but one thing is clear: sleep sells.
