It's important to have the room, where you sleep, supportive of the sleep process. But, what does that mean exactly? Well, the first thing we recommend at Pop of Modern is to eliminate unnecessary technological devices, such as T.V.s, computers/laptops, and even cell-phones. These devices not only channel noise and possibly facilitate thinking about work-related activities or deadlines causing stress, they also emit radiation. (Now, is probably a good idea to stop sleeping with your smartphone underneath your pillow at night.)
The bedroom (where possible) should be a space or place that brings comfort, so you can comfortably sleep and get enough deep sleep stage known as REM. This is a time when I body rejuvenates to help it start again the next day. Rest is important, but often neglected in our busy modern lifestyles. Thus, we've come up with a few guidelines that support the bedroom as a place for getting enough rest and supporting peace of mind:
1. Eliminate unnecessary tech devices.
We mentioned it before and stand by it. If you're going to stay up all night and watch t.v.—instead of sleeping—then, at least, make sure the t.v. is not positioned right in front of the bed. We realize many of you might disagree with this lifestyle choice, but the bed is for sleeping and also romance if you want, why would you put things in there that distract from those activities? (And, if you want to interject 'what about porn?!' We didn't say the bedroom is the only place for romance.)
Research is still coming out everyday about the harmful effects of radiation from tech devices. Additionally, falling asleep watching t.v. can form disruptive sleep patterns that are hard to break. Also, the last thing you need to be thinking about every night before sleeping is all the work-related tasks you still have not accomplished as anxious reminders scattered about the bedroom.
2. Try to make the bed everyday.
This one seems like a no-brainer, but many of us have not been trained into the idea that if you do something at least 21 times, it becomes a habit. If you are not in the habit of making the bed everyday, try it for 21 days and see if it sticks.
Making the bed everyday, not only brings the room or space together as the focal point that defines where one hopefully spends 7 - 9 hours a day, 7 days a week (holidays not included) sleeping. But, it is also a statement to one's own self-care, a space that is appreciated and respected because it is where we are often at our most vulnerable. Plus, when you see a made bed everyday, the other distractions, messes or housekeeping faux-pas, seem to fade away from view when staring at the marvelous, comfortably-made SANCTUARY of a BED.
3. Add individual comfort and style, but DE-CLUTTER.
We are all guilty of it at some point. There's either too much dirty laundry piled in the corner or other remnants of scattered clothes and ideas, or just an unmade bed as the spotlight of the room. Whatever the cause for the chaos, the best way to keep peace of mind where you sleep the most, is by making sure there's comfort, such as some nice throw pillows and blankets. But also just as important, not too much clutter, which makes it harder to keep the space tidy and comfortable.
It's also a good tip to keep surfaces clear, such as a bedside table or dresser top. Of course, add decor, individual mementos and things you use everyday, but make sure there's ample space to breath and flow. Space to place a cup of tea or a book without having to push aside a bunch of 'other stuff' is really the definition of peace of mind. Keeping spaces and surfaces free from too much clutter is said to help the mind flow more freely—not circularly—which is the kind of thinking we are trying to avoid in order to get true rest and deep REM sleep.
4. Lighting is KEY.
Lighting is always key, because without light how would we see through the darkness? But really, in this aspect lighting in the bedroom or bed space is important for calming down the mind and supporting a slowing down of daily tasks to prepare for the body's recovery through sleep. This is supported by lower lighting, such as a nice reading lamp or even some pendant fixtures as a decorative and functional statement. The right lighting creates the right mood, if you know what we me. (If you don't know what we mean, please head back to guideline number one.)
5. Add some sleep-promoting and air-purifying plants.
If you didn't know already, there are a plethora of indoor plants with low maintenance needed that also promote sleep and/or purify the air. Some of our favorites include Aloe Vera, Dracaena trifasciata (commonly known as Snake plant or Mother-in-law's Tongue), and Peace Lily. These plants are known as air-purifiers because they release oxygen and absorb air pollutants such as carbon dioxide.
Lavender and Valerian plants are some of the plants known to promote calm and sleep. The flowers of the Valerian plant give off a lovely slumber-inducing scent & the root is used as tea for insomnia. The list doesn't end there either, just make sure to be aware of the plant's water and light conditions are the most suitable for your bedroom space. They also look great featured in one of our stylish planters.
To sum up, the most important idea behind this guideline is to make sure your bedroom supports who you are, not some idea of what you think a bed/room should look like. By this, we mean, so many of us search for the cookie-cutter, conventional bed perfection, that we miss the point of why it's there in the first place: to help you sleep.
If a thousand oversized pillows aren't your thing, then don't buy them or donate the one's you don't need anymore. If all the bedding doesn't match, that's okay too, just make sure it's comfortable. Remember that calming and/or solid colors as well as uncomplicated fabrics make the best choices for peaceful vibes in the bedroom. We hope this helps you create your own bedroom sanctuary, so that you can get a good night's rest!
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