Home Maintenance – 5 Things to Take Care of for a Good Night’s Sleep
An overwhelming working schedule, the dread of expecting this season’s episode nine of Game of Thrones or unsettling soul maladies; each of us modern individuals has something keeping us awake at night. Still, getting enough sleep is just as important as daydreaming.
Apart from our personal struggles, other factors affect our resting habits as well, which is why we should start making them all work in our favor. And the best way to start is exactly where the magic happens in the first place – in the bedroom.
Here are some tips on how to turn your chambers into a perfect place for a good night’s sleep.
1. Keep It Cool and Airy
Insufficient sleep is a public health problem, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim, and it all starts within our bedrooms. As the environment in which we sleep hugely effects the quality of our sleep, one of the most important aspects to take care of is the room temperature. Experts say that the ideal temperature for sleep is 18-21 ºC, which can be easily achieved by installing a ceiling fan.
Having fixed bedroom temperature allows you the freedom of keeping your windows open even when the outside temperature is not so favorable, thus permitting a constant air flow. Fresh air is yet another requirement for a sound sleep, which is why you should crack the window open at least a nit during the night.
2. Muffle The Light
Speaking of windows, having them adequately draped is yet another thing you should carefully think about. Most blinds will keep you protected from the undesirable sources of outside light, but it’s always a good choice to have a nice set of dark, thick curtains to make the room cozier. And, if a complete blackout is causing you troubles when waking up in the morning, consider replacing blinds for window shades, since they allow just enough light penetration.
Through time, our bodies have adjusted to certain ambient light shades, so colder hues, blue ones for instance, make us more alert, while warmer, such as yellow, make our melatonin levels rise. In accordance to that, opt for lamps with warm yellow or gold light and a lampshade for a subtler glow.
3. Free Yourself Of Distractions
As said before, signals that the blue light emits to our brain waves have a tendency of keeping us wired, even during the night. Along with that, noises are another distraction that is bound to meddle with your sleeping habits. Combined together in technology devices like TV, computers and tablets, these disturbances can most certainly cause insomnia.
When arranging your bedroom for the first time, have these potential problems in mind, and decide to keep your sleeping space technology-free from the very start. Instead of filling it up with devices that give off light, tick and beep, make room for a more mind-soothing decoration.
4. Declutter Your Space
No matter how much you love them and want them by your side at any given moment, your pets can sometimes do serious harm to your sleep cycle. Even when they are quiet and calmly tucked in by the bed, their hair is probably all over the place, which means you have it on your sheets and pillows as well. Any kind of bedroom dirt, including this one, can stem allergens and cause breathing problems.
Not only in spring, but every once in a while, it’s recommended that you give your chambers a thorough cleansing treatment – keeping your room critter-free, getting rid of all potential clutter and evading all possible sources of muck will help you create a sound sleeping environment.
If you’re still deciding on which kind of bed to buy, avoid those elevated from the floor, since all of these nuisances are most likely to pile up beneath.
5. Choose The Perfect Bedding
The bed is the central piece of your bedroom and, consequently, the thing you should put most of your consideration into while in the furnishing phase. To be perfectly comfortable, keep your bed specious enough and equip it with bedding that suits your sleeping habits the best.
If you sleep on the side, for instance, a firmer pillow might be the right choice, while back-sleepers should use a medium-firm pillow, and soft ones are intended for those who like sleeping on their stomach. If a luxury mattress is too expensive for your budget, it’s OK to settle for a lesser quality one, but remember to replace it every 6 or 7 years.
Besides installing a ceiling fan for proper temperature, consider adding warm ambient light and choosing perfectly fresh bedding, filling your room with natural materials, plants, art and photos of nature. With a clean and cozily arranged bedroom, uninterrupted sleep won’t be as elusive as you might think.