Schools here in Texas started back this last week.
And the beginning of a new school year often means the end to nightly Netflix binges and my midnight rendezvous with my brother…I mean Brother…sewing machine. Looking ahead to the holidays, I have so many Christmas quilts and decorations that I want to get made between now and Christmas…the most wonderful time of the year.
So how do I convince myself and my family that going to bed before midnight is actually an attainable goal…we’ve had so many marvelous midnight matinees lately.
Especially when as a mother, I know that sleep is too important of a part of a healthy lifestyle and overall well-being to simply be ignored.
One priority that I’ve set for this back-to-school transition is to create sleep-friendly environments for both my son and myself.
Supposedly sleep-friendly environments help you fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep more soundly…(at least until you’re about 50 and have to join in with the other “older adults” enjoying the nightly potty parade)…
A good sleep environment is built on a foundation that we more commonly refer to as a “mattress.” Mattresses are one household purchase that I would never recommend that you skimp on.
Kinda like skimping on shoes or chairs…
There is no “perfect” mattress that would be perfect for everyone. There are too many factors to consider – sleep position, age, activity level, body mechanics, body type and sleep position.
In addition to the mattress itself, there are plenty of marvelous mattress toppers available that can help further the comfort of your “chosen frozen” mattress.
Also don’t skimp on bedding. Find the bedding fabric – cotton, linen, bamboo – that you like best.
As for the pillows, take sleeping position into consideration. People who sleep on their stomachs typically prefer thinner pillows than those who sleep on their sides.
It would be easy to get overwhelmed with all of the different pillows that you could consider purchasing – body pillows, contoured pillows that eliminate neck strain wedge pillows that help with sleep apnea and basic snoring.
Just don’t have so many pillows that there’s no longer room for the family dog…
I’ve heard it said that the messiest children typically turn into the neatest and tidiest adults. If that were true, then my whole house would be immaculate.
Don’t worry…I’m not going to check to see how much stuff is hiding beneath your bed.
But do try to keep your sleep environment neat and distraction free.
Otherwise, you may feel obligated to get back up and clean your room first.
We’ve all heard about the damages of blue light from electronics and been told countless times to avoid screens – TV, phone, tablet, computer – for at least 30 minutes before going to bed.
But my one big word of advice is…
Never set up a TV in your bedroom. Save the bedroom for sleep and…well, never mind…Essential oils: Just as a house without a piano and KitchenAid mixer is simply not a home, a bedroom without a Pura with a vanilla refill is simply not a retreat.
Essential oils: Just as a house without a piano and KitchenAid mixer is simply not a home, a bedroom without a Pura with a vanilla refill is simply not a retreat.
LED lights, just like the blue light from electronics, can work against melatonin production and make falling asleep harder. Opt to dimmer, warmer-color bulbs. Keep wattage low.
Also, many people find that they sleep better in a pitch black dark room.
I haven’t reached the point where I’ve adult-ed so much that I’m no longer afraid of the dark or no longer reliant on my teddy bear.
But even scaredy-cats like me can opt for black-out curtains and consider wearing a sleep mask.
Noise: Do whatever it takes to keep noise levels down. This could mean anything from earplugs to soundproofing tiles and thicker doors and windows…and possibly even turning off that TV that you said that you weren’t going to let back in the room to begin with.
Temperature: Doctors repeatedly recommend having the thermostat set between 60 and 67 degrees. This temperature reinforces the natural core body temperature.
