I once asked my grandmother what she thought the most important room of her house was, and without hesitation, she answered “the bedroom”. I was surprised by this because she had several children and was always cooking and cleaning. She loved for the family to gather around the kitchen table, so I thought for sure she would pick her kitchen.
When I asked why her answer was bedroom, she told me — “Whether you realize it or not, your bedroom is the room in your house that you spend the most time in. It should be lovely.” If your bedroom is not the absolute most relaxing place in the world, here are a few ways you can optimize it for a perfect night of sleep (and make it a priority).
- Make your Bedroom as Peaceful as Possible
Your bedroom should reflect your personality. It should be your zone, your soothing space. If you love butterflies, you should have butterfly décor. If looking at pictures of your family brings you peace and comfort, those photos should be prominent. Make sure the entire room is transformed, and not just by adding a few accessories.
Painting the walls can be one of the easiest ways to completely transform a room. Try subdued colors like lavender, light blue, and peach, the paler the shade, the more soothing. You may love neon blue, but it’s not the appropriate color for a restful place. If you’re stuck, pick a light cream or off-white for maximum warmth and comfort while trying to fall asleep.
- Limit Electronics in the Bedroom
We all are guilty of using our phones and tablets at every waking moment, but that doesn’t mean we can use them while we sleep. Exposing our eyes to that electronic glare can prevent us from being able to fall asleep at night. Try not to keep a computer, laptop, tablet, or even a TV in your bedroom if at all possible. If you must check your phone before you go to bed, try using special yellow goggles that reduce the waking effects of the light on the brain
- Set Up Your Bedroom So That It’s Only Used for Sleep
I had a college professor that used to tell me that we should set up our study environment for only studying. By only keeping a desk, pencils, a ruler, and paper on our desktop, he insisted that our brain wouldn’t get distracted and would understand what it’s supposed to do. The same applies to your bedroom.
Your brain recognizes certain areas and forms mental shortcuts for what happens there, the same way that the lab animal knows it’s going to be fed when it presses a button, or hears a bell ringing. It’s the same reason you may feel the urge to use the bathroom when you walk by that door, or why you may get hungry when you pass the kitchen. If you use your bedroom for working, reading, entertaining, or folding laundry— your brain is not going to know what task is at hand when you check-in for sleep.
- Invest in Snoozing Accessories
If you’re still having trouble blocking out life’s problems and distractions when bedtime arrives, you may want to invest in some extra accessories that may make it easier for you to snooze, like noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, or even a white-noise machine. You can also buy special blankets that are super soft for added comfort. And if there’s something from childhood that soothes you, such as an old blanket or childhood toy, it wouldn’t hurt to add that to your bedroom as well.
- Have a Good Quality Mattress
Last but definitely not least, the single most important thing that you can do to have the perfect night of sleep is to make sure your bedroom is equipped with a good quality mattress. This is something you spend a third of your life on top of, so it’s important that it be comfortable. If you’re allergic to anything you should make sure that you get a mattress made of the right materials. By choosing one that’s the correct firmness for your body posture, you can eliminate feeling achy in the morning and also alleviate chronic pain.
You can also choose mattresses with temperature controls, massaging functions, or motors that allow you to elevate the head or feet, depending on what functions are right for you. If you’re unsure of what mattress is best for your particular situation, you can check out reviews and ratings to make sure you make a good decision.
By replacing your mattress, increasing the comfort level of your bedroom, changing your decor, and buying some sleep-worthy accessories, you’ll be having a perfect night of sleep every single night, without having to count sheep!
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