The Secret to Better Sleep While Traveling: Clearing the Energy in Your Room

Why I Always Clear the Energy in My Hotel Room (and You Should Too)

The first thing most travelers do when they arrive at a hotel is drop their bags, connect to Wi-Fi, and start scrolling for food.

Not me.

I’ll never forget one trip to Costa Rica. I walked into my hotel room after 12 hours of travel — the air was heavy, the curtains were closed, and the space felt… off. I couldn’t explain it, but my chest felt tight, and I knew if I went straight to bed, I’d wake up more drained than when I left home. Instead, I took five minutes to throw open the balcony doors, clap in the corners, and light a small travel candle I always pack. The difference was immediate. The room felt like mine.

That was my reminder: hotel rooms carry more than furniture. They carry the energy of everyone who stayed before you.

The Science + Soul Behind Energy Clearing

Nervous system sensitivity:
After a long trip, your sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) is already overstimulated from airports, screens, and schedules. Walking into an unfamiliar space can keep you in “alert mode.” Studies show that sensory cues like light, scent, and sound influence vagus nerve activity — the pathway that tells your body it’s safe to rest.

Energetic imprint:
Think of how it feels to walk into a yoga studio vs. a cluttered office. One instantly calms you, the other raises your stress. That’s the power of environmental energy. Hotels and Airbnbs see hundreds of guests, all leaving behind emotional residue: stress, arguments, fatigue, excitement. Sensitive travelers (especially women 40+) often pick up on this unconsciously.

Hormones & midlife connection:
In perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating estrogen and cortisol make your body more reactive to external stress. Research suggests cortisol spikes can increase sleep disturbances, which is why even a slightly “off” room can leave you tossing all night.

Simple Rituals to Clear Energy in Your Hotel or Airbnb

Here are step-by-step practices you can try. Pick one or layer them depending on your time and comfort level.

Step 1: Open the windows (2–3 minutes)

Fresh air changes the ion balance in a room and helps regulate your nervous system. Anecdote: I once arrived at an Airbnb in Lisbon where the air was stuffy and stale. As soon as I opened the windows, I felt my body unclench — the whole energy shifted.

Step 2: Set an intention (30 seconds)

Spoken words help you claim the space.Try: “This room is now my sanctuary. May it hold rest, peace, and vitality.”, and say it while touching the door or wall — physical grounding strengthens the effect.

Step 3: Clap or snap in the corners (1–2 minutes)

Sound vibrations break up stagnant energy pockets.. Walk around the perimeter clapping or snapping until the space feels “lighter.”

Step 4: Use scent (30 seconds)

Olfactory nerves are directly linked to the limbic system (mood + memory). Essential oils like lavender, sage, or eucalyptus cue the body into a calmer state. Pack a mini spray bottle with water + a few drops of oil. Two spritzes and you’ll feel the shift.

Step 5: Reset the lighting (1 minute)

Harsh overhead lights raise cortisol. Lamps or natural light soften the nervous system’s response. Dim the main light, turn on bedside lamps, or switch on fairy lights if you pack them.

Step 6: Ground yourself (2 minutes)

Touch connects you to your environment. Placing hands on a wall, floor, or even your suitcase while breathing slowly signals your body: this is safe. In Copenhagen, after the infamous park bench nap, I learned the power of grounding first thing in a new space — it shifted everything.

How It Changes My Travel Experience

When I skip energy clearing, I feel restless, irritable, and can’t fully relax. I’ll often wake up at 3 a.m. or feel like I’m “on edge” the entire stay.

But when I take 5 minutes to reset a room, my sleep is deeper, my digestion calmer, and I feel like I’m in a space that supports me — not drains me.

Clients I’ve worked with often report the same: fewer headaches, more restful nights, even improved moods on their trips.

It’s a small act that has an outsized impact.

Energy clearing isn’t just “woo.” It’s nervous system regulation, hormone support, and intentional living. It’s claiming your environment instead of letting it claim you.

So next time you walk into a hotel or Airbnb, pause before you unpack. Clear the energy. Breathe. Set the tone for your trip.