Better Bedroom, Better Sleep

Don’t you want to be the best you can be, and get the most out of your life?  Check out these major bedroom blunders, that are probably getting in the way:

1-Too Much Light - This one is a biggie – light exposure is one of our strongest regulators of our biological clocks, and nighttime light, even from the glow of an alarm clock or a smartphone can disrupt sleep. Make the house as dark as possible, in the hours before bed, by drawing curtains and limiting TV and video games. Black out the bedroom by installing light-blocking shades or curtains, shutting off electronics and turning alarm clocks toward the wall.

2-Too Warm – When you put up with a too-warm bedroom, sleep suffers. Bedroom temperature is an important physiological cue; a drop in body temperature tells your body it’s time to sleep, and the body continues to cool over the course of the night, reaching its lowest core temperature 2 hours before waking. Between 60 & 67 degrees is ideal, and if A/C is an option, use it, and otherwise, open windows and use fans to move warm air out of the room. Blackout shades help keep rooms cool too, and I use a wet towel or washcloth on hot nights to lay on my neck or arm to keep cool.

3-Too Stimulating – Too many bedrooms are home to electronics, stacks of unfinished work, bills, and stacks of unread books. It all sends your brain into overdrive, and programs it to wake up and work instead of settling down to sleep. Even if you’re a reader, considering switching to lightweight material, instead of suspenseful thrillers, will help your brain from buzzing into the night.

4- Too Messy – A messy room can be hazardous to your health. We spend a third of our lives in bed, and climbing into a clean, fresh bed can be such a pleasure, and a retreat from hectic lives that we all need in order to recharge.  A messy, unkempt room with open closet doors can provoke stress and will remind you of unfinished chores. Let’s make those beds, close the doors and keep your room tidy – it can pave the way for sweeter dreams, starting tonight!