It’s not staying hydrated, eating well or even handwashing (although those are all important, too) ― when New York City emergency room physician Dr. Calvin Sun travels, his No. 1 priority is quality sleep.
There’s no denying that traveling has extensive health and mood benefits, but making sure you get proper rest while you’re away is key to enjoying them. It’s not exactly easy to do: A 2023 study found that only 18% of hotel travelers reported “excellent” sleep while they were away.
Sun knows sleep health is key, both from his medical experience and also from his weekends leading adventure travel experiences, including excursions in Antarctica, Africa, the Swiss Alps and Easter Island. He has traveled to close to 200 countries in the last 14 years. Those types of experiences are more enjoyable when you’re awake and happy, which is why he said he always focuses on getting good sleep before and during a trip…