The word bedroom is literally “bed+room” (deeeeep, I know). It should be a place to mentally unwind, be distraction-free, rejuvenate, and rest. For YEARS my bedroom held my whole life. I broke all the rules when it came to saving that space for rest and rejuvenation, and as a result, my mind didn’t unwind or relax whenever I came in, ready to sleep.
Here’s a survey for you.
- Do you respond to work texts or emails in bed?
- Do you ever eat or snack in your bedroom?
- Do you use your room as a space for work/homework or creative projects?
- Do you watch TV or movies in bed?
- Do you use your phone in bed?
- Is your bed an open space for pets/kids to come join you at any time?
So here’s the deal. I’m no scientist, but if you answered “yes” to a number of those, you just miiiiight be housing a lot of clutter in your room (even mental clutter).
Phones, TVs, and laptops are all mentally stimulating – using these before bed will make it a lot harder for you to unwind. Allowing work/responsibilities or other stressors to have access to you while you’re in your room/in bed takes away from the relaxing effect the room should have on you. But relax – I’m not saying NEVER watch a movie in your room, sip a latte in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm, or invite the whole family, paws and all, to jump in your bed on occasion. It’s when these things become habits that our brains work against us to prepare us for sleep and mental peace.
Here are some tips I’ve implemented throughout the past couple years to create a tranquil space.
Personally, nothing is easier for me than to swap all the fun, bright design elements out for soothing, neutral tones. This might not be for everyone, but it helped me tremendously! White walls, white wall art, white headboard, white sheets, white blinds, white pillows – all of it made me feel like I was in an open, peaceful environment. Plus, nothing felt better than to see my room in the daylight – bright, clean, and a reminder that there is a place waiting for me to unwind.
Set the mood when it’s time for bed. We like to diffuse essential oils. Aromatherapy is obviously powerful, but even the soft glow of the diffuser is really nice when you’re unwinding for the day. I’ve also used tracks (click for a playlist) that were great for deep sleep.
Avoid visual stimulators or stressors. Don’t keep clutter or work projects in sight – you’ll be thinking about them without trying. Here are some culprits – stacking bills on the dresser, work bag/briefcase, charging the laptop, college/study books left out, bulletin boards on the wall – see if you can identify any of your own!
Choose staple pieces of wall art that convey the mood you want. I usually opt for quotes only, but I also like decorative mirrors and more “blank” pieces like nature art.
Use end tables to store your essentials for winding down, and nothing else. Some of my favorite things to keep in my end table – All Good Lavender lotion, lavender oil roller, Listerine pocketpaks, melatonin vitamins, or a sleep mask. I also keep a vase of purified water and a clean glass next to the bed, for the middle-of-the-night dehydration fix, and for the get-me-awake glass of water in the morning.
Invest in bedding that you love. Maybe it’s an abundance of pillows, a plush knitted throw blanket, a fluffy duvet, or those million-thread count sheets. Think about this when making the investment – a great night’s rest makes for a great day’s work. Your productivity and work quota can increase just from better sleep.
Keep your bed fresh. It’s probably not the most ideal scenario to buy a new mattress every 3 years or so (even though Mattress Firm seems to think so with a store on every corner! #conspiracy), so here are a couple ideas I’ve used to keep making bed updates without the major purchase. Memory Foam Mattress topper, Memory Foam pillow, My Pillow.
Develop strong bedtime habits. Sorry, you can’t buy this one on Amazon, but I’ll try to leave some encouragement for you here. Try to put your phone away 30 minutes before bed (and by this, I don’t mean browsing the web in bed, then clicking the lock button, and drifting to sleep 30 mins later… #beenthere). If you can find the nerve to charge your phone across the room, do it. Find your favorite sleepy habit – reading, hot tea, showering at night, and try to do it every day. Your mind needs time to unwind!
Hope these are good, helpful tips! Do you have a favorite nighttime routine?
