10 Simple Steps to Stress Free Sleep

Your bedroom is meant to be a peaceful escape from the flurry and pressure of the outside world. However, it seems that all too often the stresses of the day work their way into the spaces where we are meant to be the most relaxed. Such disturbances lead to problems with insomnia, which in turn can cause major health difficulties. Luckily, it is surprisingly simple to remove those unwanted distractions from your bedroom so that your sleep can come easier. Combat those late-night problems. Make your bedroom a safe, peaceful place to relax and sleep. Here are 10 simple places to start:

1. The television needs to go. The television needs to be removed from the bedroom and placed instead in an entertainment system in the family room or living room. When you watch TV in bed, you can stop yourself from getting a good sleep.

2. It’s time to move the computer. Create a new space for the computer in your home office, or at least give it its own nook in the family room or den. This way you’ve gotten all your work-related stress and worry out of the place where you should be focusing on relaxing and sleeping.

3. Remember to choose appropriate colors for your bedroom. Color theory indicates that different hues have different effects on people. The cool colors that reside on the left side of the color wheel provide a sense of calm. Pick one of these colors for the bedroom, avoiding any of those bright, loud colors that are more exciting than soothing.

4. Get rid of any excess noise. Keep stereos, televisions and other noisy electronics out of any adjacent rooms. Most contemporary homes aren’t built with soundproof walls, and the resulting noise that bleeds through can keep you awake at night.

5. Block any light coming into your bedroom. Find some light-blocking window treatments to install in the room. Even at night, plenty of outside light can easily find its way into the bedroom, disrupting your sleep patterns. Keep your bedroom as dark as you can, something that is particularly important for those who work at night and sleep during the day.

6. Try adding a little light. If you sleep more comfortably with a little light, then add a couple of nightlights or a dimmer switch to the room, rather than sleeping with the lamp on.

7. It’s also a good idea to check your pipes. Loud pipes will wake everyone up when one person visits the bathroom in the dead of night. Locate the source of any clanging and banging, particularly if your bathroom is next to your bedroom.

8. Also, seal your doors and window. Secure your doors and windows so they are draft- and rattle-free.

9. Keep the air in your bedroom clean. To keep air quality at its best, try using an air purifier or humidifier. Allergens and excessively dry air can easily disrupt your sleep. They also make waking up extremely unpleasant. Also, many of these machines produce a white noise that will conveniently drown out other distracting night sounds.

10. Finally, organize your bedroom. Rearrange your closets so that you have a home for all your clothing and personal items. It’s stressful to live in a chaotic, messy space. It’s impossible to fall asleep when everywhere you look there are shoes and clothes scattered all over the floor. It’s easier to sleep well knowing that everything is in its place.