Clutter & Sleep Make TERRIBLE Bed Partners!

Organize your bedroom for better sleep!

The laundry’s piled up, books you meant to read, last week’s attempt to reorganize – they’re all in heaps on the floor. It’s a likely scenario in our bedrooms during our most busy times, or perhaps like some roommates, all the time. If you’re anything like us, clutter drives you nuts until you have the time to clean it up and organize it all. But, if you’re like that aforementioned roomie, clutter won’t bother you and it’s more likely to increase before you make the time to clean it up.

As Marie Kondo says, our homes should be for the person we are becoming and not the person we once were. Meaning to truly cherish the things you cherish, you must first discard those things that have outlived their purpose. When it comes to your bedroom, it should a sanctuary where you recharge your batteries, rejuvenate your spirit and find yourself at peace before falling sweetly into the depths of dreamland.

No matter how you feel about a messy room, if clutter creates stress or buzzes in the background like an annoying fly in your ear, bedroom chaos affects your ability to get a healthy night’s sleep.

When you’re surrounded by a mess, you may be able to ignore it, but your brain will always register its surroundings. On a subconscious level, your brain will believe it needs to complete a task, such as sort laundry or clear away piles of books. When you finally get around to clearing away the clutter, your brain is finally able to relax, release tension and allow you to enjoy a more restful night’s sleep. And as Kondo says, “Clutter is not just stuff on your floor – it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”

Begin cleaning, declutter & organizing – the rest is easy!

The hard part of creating a bedroom you’ll love sleeping in is knowing where to begin. The task can be daunting but with a few helpful hints, you can enjoy a fresh, clutter-free and sleep-optimized bedroom in no time.

• Make a plan. Break down tasks into smaller more manageable steps so the job isn’t as overwhelming.
• Make piles. Separate your stuff into 3 piles: things to keep, things to give away and things to toss.
• Ask for help. An extra set of hands makes the job go much faster and a friend can offer a sober second thought when deciding what to toss and what to keep.
• Get rid of the big stuff. Larger pieces of furniture can add to the chaos. If you want to minimize your need for larger items such as dressers, reorganize your closet to hold more items or hang a shelf next to your bed to replace a bulky night stand.
• Donate or toss the same day. Whether you’re donating your clutter or tossing it in the trash, do it the same day and you’ll immediately feel freer and more relaxed in your room.
• Reward yourself. After a successful day of consolidating and purging, reward yourself with some new artwork or a new outfit. Although the best reward will be getting a great night’s sleep!

Declutter your room AND your brain

Sometimes what clutters your bedroom and your brain isn’t always a mess. Your environment as a whole can affect how well your brain is able to relax itself. Consider these forms of clutter that could be clogging your room and brain before sleep.

• Electronic clutter. The screens of our computers, phones, tablets and TV’s emit a blue light that can activate the brain, making it more difficult to fall asleep. Try shutting down technologyat least 30 minutes before bed and not leaving a device on the nightstand next to you. If you must sleep with it beside you, put it on silent and set it to only accept calls from certain numbers during your sleep.
• Artwork and photo clutter. Some artwork and photos can be intense and activate your brain rather than calm it down. Decorating with soothing, soft colors and peaceful scenes create a calming and inviting sleeping environment.
• Space clutter. We can’t possibly keep everything neat all the time, but keeping the floor and surfaces as clear as possible can go a long way. Simple ways to limit clutter in your bedroom could include using a laundry hamper or implementing a designated junk drawer to place items you don’t have a place for yet.
• Light clutter. The sun and moon are beautiful but they can also stand between you and a good night’s sleep. Before bed or a nap, close your blinds or curtains. Investing in black-out curtains can help eliminate any light creeping in. Another suggestion would be to install a dimmer switch to create softer and more calming lighting. Switching over to a softer light a half hour to an hour before bed helps your brain prepare for slumber.
• Noise clutter. Noise is an obvious obstruction to sleep, but not all noise is bad. Investing in a sound machine (think of it as white noise or noise-cancelling) can help drown out the dripping sink, car alarms or a loud neighbor. Other alternatives would be earplugs or an insulating curtain over the windows.

Rest well & wake up ready to go!

Better sleep gives rise to better mornings, bringing your goals into focus and dreams within reach. Hungry for more sleep info? Dig into these posts:

• What’s the best lighting for your bedroom?
• Where to put your bed for the best night’s sleep
• How to choose the best mattress for your bad back