How To Get A Great Night's Sleep

A feature article by Mrs Kittens, Apr 10, 2008         

Summary: So many of us have trouble sleeping, but following a few easy steps can help.

 
With our busy modern lifestyles, getting a good night’s sleep is more important than ever. One of the most common everyday complaints, however, is lack of sleep. Thanks to our hectic daily lives, it’s difficult to relax and sleep is often elusive. There are some simple ways to make it easier, by making your bedroom a calming refuge. Firstly, think about what you have in your room. The most important object is the bed and anything else might be able to go. You want the room to be associated with sleep, but if you have a television or a games console, this won’t be the case. Have you ever stayed up all night in your bedroom to watch a film? No wonder you can’t sleep there! There should be no distractions from getting to sleep; no bright lights or entertainment. Put the television in another room and let the focus be on the bed. Even reading in bed can distract your mind from the main purpose of being there. A calm room is an uncluttered room, so you should take extra care to keep your bedroom tidy. That means picking up clothes that you’ve dropped on the floor, putting your make-up away and not leaving shoes all over the place. The room will look a lot nicer and be a pleasant place to spend time. Cleaning your bedroom regularly is essential; a cleaner room smells better and good smells are relaxing. Open the window every so often to let some air in; bedrooms especially are prone to getting stuffy. Turn back your sheets to discourage dust mites. It’s worth investing some money in the bed itself; many people have trouble sleeping because their mattress is uncomfortable, and a bad mattress can even cause physical problems like back and muscle pain. Memory foam mattresses, for example, are more expensive but offer a lot of comfort. You spend a third of your life asleep so spending a little money in this area is a good investment! A proper pillow will also cost more but last for years, and you’ll notice the difference in comfort. Luxury sheets can make a big difference too, and the good thing about sheets is that they’re often available at half the price at a clearance linen store. You can get some absolute bargains here. Get some bolsters and cushions too to make your bed extra special, and make sure that you match your curtains and decor so that the room always looks good. Finally, you might want to change your lighting. A dimmer switch is great because you can just turn the whole light level down in the room, but lamps are a good alternative. Fairy lights or lava lamps can be very relaxing and add atmosphere to the room. You should remember that since you’ll only be sleeping there, you don’t need very powerful lighting and it’s more about mood than practicality. If you follow these steps your bedroom will be a far nicer place to be, and you’ll get a better night’s sleep straight away.

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