Sleeping with the lights on may not appear to be very bright, but when you’re traveling and sleeping in unfamiliar hotel rooms, a small bit of light will keep you more safer. When staying in a hotel or motel, you may have heard the advice to leave the bathroom light on. This may seem like an unusual suggestion, but there are some very practical reasons behind it. From increased safety and comfort to potential health benefits, here’s why this tiny habit can have a big impact.
Keeps pests away. Motels, particularly those with outside access, can occasionally experience bug and other pest infestations. Leaving the bathroom light on can discourage creatures from exploring your property at night. Bugs and other small pests are generally drawn to the darker corners of a room, so lighting the bathroom may keep them away, allowing you to get a better night’s rest. However, as one Quora user notes, “lights on do keep cockroaches away, but can attract other insects.”
Unfamiliar locations are simple to navigate, especially in the dark. One netizen finds it “strange,” but appreciates the brightness for her “clumsy husband” who “walks into furniture” without a lighted path. By leaving the bathroom light on, you produce a soft, indirect glow in the main room, allowing you to walk safely if you need to get up throughout the night. A soft light reduces the likelihood of tripping or banging into furniture, whether you’re reaching for a glass of water or simply finding your way to the restroom.
Furthermore, if an emergency arises and you must rapidly flee, you will not have to fumble through darkness. “I don’t think being sleepy, alone in a deep dark room, trying to [find] my eyeglass, in an unfamiliar space is nice,” writes one internet admirer, who explains she usually travels alone for business. “In case of emergency I want to make sure I can find my exit immediately, it’s one of my self-protection protocols, always.”
Hunters drop their weapons to help an animal in need. Hunters put down their weapons to save an animal in need. Some people are apprehensive in an unfamiliar, pitch-black room. A tiny amount of light from the bathroom can give a soothing glow without being too bright or distracting. It can help to relax your thoughts and make you feel more at comfortable in an unfamiliar location, which is especially beneficial for single travelers or people who struggle to sleep in complete darkness.
Another internet commenter recommends that hotel visitors leave the bathroom light on but close the door: “There’s enough light coming out from under the door to navigate a strange room.” Visual deterrent for intruders. Lights are commonly employed in homes to create the sense of an occupied, dynamic place. It can also serve as a deterrent in a hotel room, preventing prospective attackers or unwanted guests from entering a dark environment while the person is deep asleep. This additional layer of security may be tiny, but it can provide peace of mind.