From experienced travelers to long-time hotel receptionists, they all share the same advice: keep the bathroom light on when sleeping in a hotel or guesthouse. This simple act actually offers numerous benefits, and may even save your life in an emergency.

Here are the advantages of leaving the bathroom light on when sleeping in a hotel or mothel:

1.   Be prepared for emergencies
Leaving the bathroom light on while sleeping in a hotel can be a life-saving measure in case of an emergency.

With light coming from the bathroom, you can easily find the exit if an unexpected situation arises, such as an accident, earthquake, fire alarm, or if an intruder enters your room.

In an unfamiliar environment, with no lights on and darkness all around, it will be very difficult to find the way out. In a state of panic, trying to stay calm to find your phone or the light switch will waste precious time in escaping danger.

Of course, no one wants bad situations like these to happen, but it’s better to be prepared.

2.   Soothes fear and anxiety
If you’re easily frightened or not used to sleeping in unfamiliar places, keeping the bathroom light on will help you feel more at ease. It provides just enough light to soothe your anxiety without disturbing your sleep.

When sleeping in a strange environment, people often feel uneasy and not as comfortable as they do at home. Keeping the bathroom light on helps you feel more secure and less likely to wake up startled in the middle of the night.

3.   Promotes better sleep

Some people find it hard to sleep when the room is too dark, but using a nightlight can be too bright and uncomfortable. A better option for getting a good night’s sleep in a hotel is to leave the bathroom light on. This way, there’s some light, but it’s not too bright or close to your eyes, allowing you to relax and drift off to sleep more easily.

Additionally, if you wake up in the middle of the night, having complete darkness around you means you’ll need to fumble around for the light, phone, or figure out where the bathroom is. This can fully wake you up, making it harder to fall back asleep. It could also disturb others sharing the room with you.

4.   Ensures safety
Nighttime is when you need to be especially alert, especially if you’re alone in a hotel room. Leaving the bathroom light on might discourage anyone with ill intentions from approaching. Seeing the light on might make them think you’re still awake, deterring them from attempting to break in.

5.   Helps with orientation and prevents accidents
Since you’re not familiar with the room layout, if you don’t leave the bathroom light or a nightlight on, you might trip when getting up for water or more blankets. Not to mention, if you have a habit of leaving your suitcase open in the middle of the room, there’s a risk of stepping on it and falling because you can’t see the way.