Good Space For Good Sleep

Creating a good sleeping space makes all the difference to how restful our sleep is.

When we miss out on deep restful sleep we are less energised, our nervous system is compromised, our relationships and work suffer and life just seems harder and less flowy. There are lots of factors that can affect our sleep, these are some of my favourites taht I know help others too. Some of the main things I do for my own bedroom and suggest to clients are:

1.  declutter

Only bedroom things belong in this room and by keeping it simple and minimal it will ensure a really good flow of energy and fresh air.  Also ensure you aren’t storing anything under your bed. Utilise cupboards or baskets to store things well and before sleeping clean up any clothes hanging around or on the floor.

2. quality bedding

This is so crucial and worth the money! Not only do we spend a third of our lives in bed but it prepares us for the day to come.  A good sleep means our physical body can heal and feel it’s best, our mind can be clearer for better decision making and creativity and our emotional body can be more balanced so we can engage better in our relationships.  I always choose natural fibers and fillings like bamboo and linen which breathe well and help body temperature regulation.  These options are good for us, animals and the planet.  A comfortable mattress makes all the difference and I also always use a ‘mattress topper’ aka ‘cloud’ which is heaven. Washing our sheets regularly is probably one of the easiest and most satisfying things we can do to have a great nights sleep. Also regularly flipping our mattress and shaking out and hanging our pillows and blankets outside, or even better in the sun, helps kill bacteria and air them out.

3. ventilation

Keep the bedroom free of dust, wash sheets regularly and air out the space as often as possible.  Open windows and use indoor plants to get clean air flow or opt for a de-humidifier in a room which may get less ventilation. You can opt for a dehumidifier and use essential oils in it too, or freshen your room with a natural room spray.

4. low lights

As we near bedtime choose warm glow lamps instead of using the main lights.  I love cheap frosted lamps with warm globes that i have in corners of the house behind couches or plants that give off a warm cozy soft light. At night we want to slow down our nervous system response to wind down and get ready for a long rest.  Ideally avoiding electronics before sleep is best ofcourse but this may be the time for you to catchup on things if you don't get a chance to throughout the day.  If you are using your phone in the evening turn both to ‘night mode’ brightness (I use this all day to be gentle on my eyes - trust me your eyes will thank you so much !). For laptops use the free downloadable app ‘flux’.  Again, you will notice the huge difference and your eyes will thank you, and me. There are blu blocker glasses available too which are great, especially if you use your computer a lot. Also turning your phone on aeroplane mode, disconnecting from home WIFI and moving the phone far (far!) away from you while sleeping can help lessen the electro magnetic field effect on your body - and don't worry, your alarm will still work on flight mode.   Ensuring the room is dark at night using thick blinds or curtains will also help with getting a much deeper and sounder sleep without distractions. If you're room still has some light coming in you can find a nice eye mask to wear.

5. utilise a notepad or journal

This is seriously life changing and something I talk of very often because it is so important. The main reason we wake throughout the night or struggle to get to sleep is because of a busy mind. To have a mind is one of the biggest gifts and biggest challenges of having a human experience. With so much stimulation and so many thoughts, to-do's and feelings moving through us all day it's no wonder that when everything gets quiet and we are ready to slow down and rest that our mind can want to have a D&M (deep and meaningful) chat with us and tell us all the things. Utilising the power of pen to paper is changing thoughts from an energetic form to a material form!! So potent. When in the material form it can no longer be in our head. A quick brain dump and moving through the day, taking notes and / or a body / feeling scan of where you're at is really beautiful. Plus if you notice you have several to-do's floating around in your head it's great to jot these down too. That way your mind doesn't need to keep these tabs open throughout the night - which is what tends to keep us awake at random hours.