Health and Wellbeing

By normalising tiredness as just being “really busy”, we risk overlooking the real impact of exhaustion, and how it edges us closer to potential burnout. Photography: Fxquadro.

The global state of fatigue

By Emily Clarke

Briefly …

Emily Clarke explores new research showing how deeply fatigue shapes our lives, and why solo, restorative travel may be the most powerful antidote.

In today's overstimulated, ‘always-on’ world, meaningful rest has become a necessity and, more often than not, a luxury. Travel is emerging as one of the most powerful ways to support recovery, and Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) wanted to understand why. To explore the growing need for profound rest, SLH commissioned OnePoll to survey 6,000 adults across the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

The results, published in ‘The Restless Traveller’ report, reveal a stark reality: 72% of respondents said they feel tired right now, while 60% believe modern life doesn’t allow for true rest. As one participant put it, “It’s not just a lack of sleep. It’s a lack of space to breathe”. The survey also showed that not all trips recharge us equally. Nature-based escapes (49%) and wellness-focused travel (22%) ranked as the most restorative, whether that means hiking in a rainforest, three quiet days by the sea, or a pottery workshop in a Tuscan village.

Yet the report also highlights something more subtle, which is that the way we talk about fatigue is failing us. Words like ‘overwhelmed’, ‘exhausted’, or the dreaded ‘so busy’ have become default shorthand. Convenient, yes, but they risk masking a more troubling truth. Behind these easy labels lie packed schedules, relentless commitments, and constant activity, slowly eroding our wellbeing. By normalising tiredness as just being “really busy”, we risk overlooking the real impact of exhaustion, and how it edges us closer to potential burnout.

Exhaustion today has many faces. Almost half (48%) of respondents feel it physically, 44% mentally, 25% emotionally, and 14% socially. But there is hope, with nearly nine in ten people (89%) believing travel as being uniquely effective for restorative rest. Unlike ‘just needing to get another night’s sleep’, travel offers perspective and reconnection. The study found that travel lifts mood (67%), brings fresh perspective (52%), improves sleep (37%), increases gratitude (34%), fosters connection with nature (31%), and sparks creativity (28%). Grouped together, these findings suggest travel nourishes body, mind, and spirit in ways everyday life struggles to replicate.

For solo travellers, this resonates even more strongly. Without the compromises of group travel, journeys taken alone allow us to follow our own rhythms, pursue rest on our own terms, and reconnect with what truly restores us. Whether it’s a digital detox in the mountains, a city weekend with no agenda, or a long walk by the ocean, solo travel gives us permission to make rest central to the journey itself.

“Whether it’s a digital detox in the mountains, a city weekend with no agenda, or a long walk by the ocean, solo travel gives us permission to make rest central to the journey itself.”

“These findings are yet another reminder that rest needs to be woven into our lives, especially when we’re balancing family responsibilities and work demands,” Dominique Antiglio, SLH’s Wellbeing Expert and Founder of BeSophro, tells The Solo Traveller. “Time to recharge isn’t a luxury – it’s essential for mental and physical health. Rest isn’t one-size-fits-all, so don’t be afraid to explore different kinds. Plan your rest in advance, protect it fiercely, and enjoy it without guilt.”

Travel is shown to have specific, tangible benefits for overall wellbeing. Photography: Helivideo.

Can travel really help?

Yes, and we know it can. 89.2% of respondents recognised travel as uniquely effective for achieving comprehensive rest across multiple wellbeing dimensions. 97% of respondents said that regular breaks are essential for long-term wellbeing, 93% said that prioritising rest and wellbeing is important when choosing where to travel, and 89% said that travel helps them reconnect with what’s important in life.

Travel is shown to have specific, tangible benefits for overall wellbeing. 67% reported improved mood after travelling, 52% experienced a fresh perspective, 37% noted improved sleep quality, 31% felt more gratitude, 28% connected better with nature, and 34% reported a boost in creativity.

SLH has responded to these shifting needs by creating its Wellbeing Collection – a carefully curated group of hotels that spotlight places offering heartfelt hospitality, peaceful settings, and immersive experiences in nature, culture, and wellness. “Following an increased desire from guests for wellbeing and inner sustainability, we’ve created the Wellbeing Collection to help travellers truly relax, unplug, and feel enriched,” says Richard Hyde, SLH’s Chief Operating Officer. “Each hotel in the collection weaves together practices that foster long-term wellbeing. From forest bathing and wild swimming to nourishing food and thoughtful design, each stay is rooted in the three pillars of rest, reconnection, and resilience. In a world that leaves us weary, these spaces invite travellers to pause, and remind us that with intention, travel can restore not just our bodies, but our whole way of being.”

The 15 founding members of the SLH Wellbeing Collection

Acro Suites, Crete, Greece

Overlooking the Aegean Sea in northern Crete, this contemporary clifftop wellness retreat aims to boost mood and energy levels, whilst lowering stress, by blending therapies focused on relaxation, with workshops on the vagus nerve, ancient Greek bathing rituals, energising therapies, chanting and cacao ceremonies, with healthy local cuisine overseen by a Michelin-starred chef.

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, Shaba, Bhutan

A Himalayan paradise hidden among the lush pine forests of the Neyphu Valley, near Paro, offering deeply personalised wellness guided by a Traditional Bhutanese Medicine doctor, who delivers an uncannily accurate health diagnosis and sets you on a course to achieve better balance of mind, body and spirit by blending traditional Bhutanese medicine, cultural rituals which may include a trip to a traditional fortune teller, and mindful practices.

Castle Hot Springs, Morristown, Arizona, USA

Mineral-rich springs dictate the pace at this serene retreat in Arizona, where the soulful, calming qualities of the Sonoran Desert are best appreciated whilst soaking in the healing pools, yet there's no shortage of activities to connect you to this pristine pocket of nature, with hiking, biking, via ferrata and mindful therapies such as painting and gardening.

eriro, Ehrwald, Austria

A secluded and super-stylish lodge in the Tyrolean Alps, eriro takes a uniquely unstructured, hands-off approach to wellness to ensure each guest unfolds their wellbeing journey in a way that feels logical and comfortable for them. Combining traditional practices with unconventional activities, all set in a tranquil, tech-minimal environment.

Euphoria Retreat, Mystras, Greece

A luxurious wellness haven that seamlessly blends ancient healing traditions with modern medical science, offering personalised, results-driven programmes in a stunning Peloponnese setting, where expert-led therapies, gourmet health cuisine, and serene natural beauty create a truly transformative escape.

FORESTIS, Brixen, Italy

A contemporary summit-level sanctuary in the emerald forests of South Tyrol where guests can reconnect with nature and ancient rituals surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites. Following a Druid nature-based philosophy tuned into the natural rhythms and elements of the landscape, guests can soak up the innate spirituality of the forest practising wyda, the Celts’ mindful version of yoga, in sauna rituals with essential oils from local larch, spruce and pine trees and nutrient-dense dining with organic food from nearby farms and foraged ingredients.

Gangtey Lodge, Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan

A serene traditional Himalayan farmhouse hideaway overlooking the remote and sacred Phobjikha Valley, where guests can deepen their spirituality by joining the local monks for an early morning cleansing ritual or taking a meditation class with a tulku (the reincarnation of a deceased spiritual master), explore ancient trails, engage with local farming traditions, and rejuvenate with traditional healing therapies for a profound sense of inner peace.

HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu, Balderschwang Bayern, Germany

This Bavarian mountain retreat blends European and Indian wellness traditions with a focus on slow food, offering Ayurvedic treatments and mindful activities such as silent sunrise hikes, yoga classes, Sunday mass in the local church and singing bowl meditations, all in a serene setting where the Alps meet Asia.

Keemala, Phuket, Thailand

A fantastical rainforest retreat in Phuket with a whimsical design and treehouses that appear to float in the jungle canopy. Immersive wellness experiences range from traditional Thai healing using herbal therapies and Muay Thai to forest yoga and personalised cuisine, all designed to restore balance, clarity, and a deep connection with nature.

Miramonti Boutique Hotel, Merano, Italy

A luxurious South Tyrol Mountain retreat where guests can unwind with stunning spa views, adventurous outdoor activities including paragliding, hiking, horse-drawn sleigh rides and the unique experience of sleeping under the stars in a Land Rover rooftop tent, all complemented by gourmet dining and a deep connection to nature.

Namia River Retreat, Hoi An, Vietnam

This thoughtful riverside spa retreat blends traditional Vietnamese wellbeing practices, such as duong sinh, the country's spin on breathwork, and dien chan, a form of facial reflexology, with modern wellness design, including circadian rhythm lighting systems, as well as offering immersive wellness rituals, cultural experiences, and easy access to the charming nearby UNESCO-protected port city of Hoi An.

Oasyhotel, San Marcello Piteglio, Italy

Located in a serene, car-free 1,000-hectare wilderness reserve in the Apennine Mountains, setting a seductively slow pace where nature-based wellness experiences from next-level forest bathing and wild swimming to organic spa treatments and starlit meditations create a deeply restorative escape designed to reset mind, body, and spirit.

Quinta da Comporta, Carvalhal, Portugal

Set on a former rice farm, this resort offers locally inspired spa treatments centred around the healing power of its surrounding rice paddies, surf workouts, and unique cultural experiences like Alentejo singing – a traditional two-part choral singing style – and UNSECO-protected cultural activity, unique to the region.

Rio Perdido, Bagaces, Costa Rica

A lush eco-resort centred around a thermal river and medicinal springs in a 1,500-acre reserve, offering 'blue therapy' – water-based healing, immersive nature experiences, and therapeutic thrills from mountain biking, zip lining and canyoning to white-water tubing and forest walks in one of the Americas' rarest ecosystems.

Teranka, Formentera, Spain

This bohemian beach retreat in Formentera is the antidote to Ibiza's party scene, offering a creative and unconventional approach to wellness, focusing on a revolving program of artistic residencies by renowned writers, artists and poets, who provide emotional healing through meaningful conversation, combined with immersive nature experiences, artistic endeavours such as scarf making, botanical silk printing, daily Pilates and yoga classes on a sea-facing deck as well as excellent massages and an ice bath.

To celebrate the launch of the Wellbeing Collection, SLH Club Members will receive exclusive access to the BeSophro app, featuring the new Travel Reset series, a collection of guided mind-body practices designed to enhance restful travel, from easing flight anxiety and jet lag to helping guests maintain that post-holiday sense of calm.

Source: The Restless Traveller report https://slh.com/wellbeing/the-restless-traveller

Emily Clarke is a passionate solo traveller and The Solo Traveller’s Tourism Collaborations Lead.