CREATE CALM FOR OPTIMAL SLEEP
Close your eyes for a minute and picture your bedroom. How do you feel when you enter the room? What do you see?
If you answered clutter, disorganization, dirty dishes or clothes strewn about … all of which leads you to experience an increase in heartbeat, chest tightening or headache, then something might need to change.
The bedroom should be treated as a haven, a safe space where you can shut off life’s worries, disconnect, and relax. It’s difficult to relax in a space that is cluttered and anxiety provoking.
More than that, studies show that your environment has a direct impact to your emotional well-being. A study done at the University of Mexico showed that clutter impacts a person’s perception of home and ultimately their satisfaction with life. Too much clutter can lead to your home feeling like your enemy, not your friend. If you are feeling anxious in your bedroom, how can you expect to get a good night’s rest?
Try these four tips to promote calm and healthy sleep habits:
1. Calming Colors – The bedroom, as mentioned previously, should evoke feelings of calm and relaxation. One way to do that is through your choice of color scheme. The most relaxing colors are cool shades, think light greys, blues or neutral greens. It may sound unimportant, but there is science to back up the notion that room color affects stress perception.
2. Clean Your Room – Your parents were right, creating calm starts when your bed is made, and you can see the floor. Try making your bed every morning, it only takes an extra minute, and put all dirty clothes in a hamper right away.
3. Save the Bed for Sleep – Making a rule that the bed is only for sleeping is important for maintaining good sleep habits and boundaries. Today, many people choose to eat and work in their beds, but doing so creates the perception that the bed is not a place for relaxation.
4. Reduce Noise – Make sure the space is quiet and, if need be, use a fan or sound machine for subtle, consistent background noise. Changing tones and volumes are likely to interrupt sleep, so do yourself a favor and shut off televisions and radios.
Sleep is a crucial part of how your body retains information and reenergizes. Without proper sleep, happiness and productivity decrease. Take baby steps to create a healthy sleep routine and begin on the journey to transforming your life.
Curious about the sleep process and how it can affect productivity? Contact us at info@wellnesscollective.com to book a Lunch & Learn or Education Session.
Sources: Psychology Today and sleepfoundation.org
Author: Katy Tombaugh