I treated sleep as something I’d catch up on later.
Working as a chef throughout my twenties and early thirties meant long days on my feet, constant deadlines and very little rest. Add in regular travel for events, retreats, and collaborations, and you’ve got a schedule that left no room for balance. I was often stepping off a long-haul flight and straight into the kitchen, fuelled by espresso and adrenaline, with barely a moment to breathe.
Late-night dinners blurred into early morning check-outs. Jet lag was my default state. I wore my exhaustion like a badge of honour, convinced that pushing through was just part of the grind. But somewhere between chasing time zones and chasing dreams, I realised I was always running on empty.
It wasn’t until I hit full-body burnout in my early thirties, an all-too-familiar cocktail of insomnia, anxiety, and chronic inflammation that I truly began to understand:
Sleep is not a luxury. It’s a biological necessity.
And it’s the most important wellness ritual we have.
The Nighttime Symphony Inside Your Body
We often think of sleep as simply switching off, but the truth is, our bodies are doing some of their most important work when we rest. Sleep is a nightly reset-a complex, intelligent process that restores balance to every system in the body.
Here’s what’s really happening when we sleep:
1. Cellular Repair and Regeneration
Deep sleep is when the body releases growth hormone, repairing muscle, tissue, and bone. It’s when inflammation is reduced, immune function restored, and physical stress begins to heal.
If you’re always catching colds, recovering slowly from workouts, or feeling achy after flying-it might not be your immunity, but your sleep.
2. Detoxing the Brain
Your brain literally cleans itself while you sleep. Once I learned this, I stopped thinking of sleep as indulgent. How could I not protect something so essential?
3. Emotional Processing and Mental Clarity
REM sleep-the dreaming stage is when our brain processes emotions and locks in memory. It’s what allows us to feel emotionally grounded, sharp, and capable the next day.
After a true night of rest, I can feel the difference immediately: clearer thoughts, calmer reactions, and a quiet confidence that comes from not running on reserves.
Why Sleep Matters Even More When You Travel
Travel can be transformative, but let’s be honest-it’s also tough on the body. Between hotel air-conditioning, recycled plane air, strange bedding, and time zones, our circadian rhythms don’t stand a chance.
I used to wake up in hotel rooms or airbnbs with skin breakouts, irritated eyes, and hair that felt like straw. No matter how luxurious the room, if I didn’t sleep well, I didn’t feel well-and that affected everything from my energy in the kitchen to how present I was with people I cared about.
That’s why I created LATRAVLA - to give people the tools to protect sleep, even when we’re far from home.
The Ritual of Rest: My Non-Negotiables
These days, sleep is my most sacred ritual-my foundation for everything.
Here are the tools I never travel without:
My Silk Travel PillowWrap: Always. It’s anti-microbial, gentle on skin and hair, and helps regulate temperature. It turns even the most questionable hotel pillow into a sanctuary.
PillowMask with Silk Filling & Padding Pressure: Not just for blocking light-it soothes the nervous system and grounds me before sleep.
Magnesium Mist: A few sprays on my feet and stomach signals my body it’s time to unwind.
Evening Routine: Soft light, herbal tea, no screens after 9PM, and a few stretches to reset.
Even on the road, these small rituals create a sense of familiarity-and that tells my body: you’re safe, you can rest.
Sleep Is Self-Love
In a world that glorifies hustle, rest becomes a quiet rebellion. But more than that-it becomes an act of self-respect.
When we sleep well, we don’t just look better—we show up better.
We’re more present. More patient. More ourselves.
Our skin glows, our energy stabilises, our minds expand. This is what real luxury feels like: coming home to yourself, no matter where in the world you are.
So if you’ve been pushing sleep to the bottom of your wellness list, I invite you to reconsider.
Protecting your rest is the most powerful investment you can make in your body, your beauty, and your brilliance.
Whether you’re at home, in a hotel, or flying halfway around the globe-your sleep deserves to travel well.
Sleep well,
Jamie Louise
Founder of LATRAVLA
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