In recent years, the quality of our sleep has deteriorated rapidly. With increased stress levels, technology and health worries all playing havoc on our sleep patterns, many of us now get less than the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night.
Just like with a good diet, knowing about the importance of sleep isn’t always enough to make it happen. We need to create a cosy and well-rounded sleeping environment and optimise the factors which lead to us getting a good night’s sleep. We spend ⅓ of our life asleep and we statistically spend more time in our bedrooms and in bed than we do anywhere else, which means that having a cosy and welcoming sleep environment is important.
Remove Clutter
If your bedroom resembles a floordrobe, then it is time to spend some time decluttering. Even if you don’t realise it, clutter can have a huge impact on our mood and sleep quality, so it’s time to get organised. If you just leave your clothes on the floor, then get a laundry basket and keep it in one area of the room and be sure to put away all your clean clothes once they are out of the laundry. Be sure to give everything a place and regularly dust and clean your bedroom.
Assess Your Matress
You should change your mattress every 8 years and they are one of the most important keys to getting a good night’s sleep. However, if you are still sleeping on an old mattress and suffering from regular back pain or insomnia, make this one of your priority purchases. Next, be sure to invest in high-quality bed sheets which make getting into bed feel like a luxury, rather than a discomfort. Bedding with 100% cotton and a high thread count are considered a luxury purchase, but try to shop for bedding in the summer -there’s more likely to be sales on.
Set The Right Temperature
Adjusting the temperature of your bedroom may take some trial and error, but it is hugely important when it comes to the quality of your sleep. Naturally, we tend to fall asleep and have a better quality of sleep in a room which is cooler – around 16º-18º – than we do a warm room. However, if you share a bed with someone, then getting the right room temperature may be more of a compromise. Try keeping windows open during the day and closing them at night if you share with a fussy sleeper or invest in a dual-action fan – one which both heats and cools, depending on your mood.
Pay Attention To Lighting
Lighting plays a huge part in both preparing for and getting some sleep. Outside and unnatural light can be huge disruptors when it comes to getting quality sleep, so assess just how dark your room is at night. You may find that streetlight or LED lights in the bedroom, from alarm clocks or TVs, are causing issues. If this is the case, invest in some heavy-duty curtains or intu blinds in order to block outdoor light. Intu blinds are a great addition, as they don’t require any drilling in order to install, so are a quick-fix solution to your lighting problems. If you go to a specialist blind’s company, like Blind Technique, they will help you choose the right type of Intu blind for your bedroom. Remove or block LED lights in the night and enjoy a better night’s sleep.