Cynthia’s Slumber Secrets

Do’s Don’ts

• Invest in a good mattress.We spend one-third of our lives sleeping, so it’s worth it.

• Make your bed every morning. After a long day, it’s a welcome relief to walk into your bedroom and see your bed already made.

• Keep it clean and organized. A clean, clutter-free room can help you relax and de-stress at the end of the day. Your bedroom should be the place you recharge your mind and soul.

• Add extra blankets, pillows and soft lighting for a cozy ambience.

• Keep electronics out of your bedroom. Laptops, tablets and TVs create “blue-light” distractions, affecting the body’s melatonin production and natural circadian rhythms.

• Add plants or small flower arrangements. Plants help purify the air and bring a calming atmosphere to your bedroom.

• Use comfortable bedding appropriate for the season. Invest in comfortable sheets and pillows that accommodate your body-temperature preferences—be it pure cotton, silk or flannel.

• Decorate with calming colors. Choose colors that evoke a sense of peace. If cheery colors are more your style, be sure to allow yourself “wind-down time” with reading and/or light music once in bed.

• Add aromatherapy. Aromatherapy helps balance and harmonize body, mind and spirit. Consider using lavender- or chamomile-scented candles or diffusers.

• Bring anything work-related into your bedroom. Avoid having your desk or computer within eyesight. Bedrooms should be reserved for rest and sleeping whenever possible.

• Overclutter the space with too much furniture. Allowing “breathing room” reduces anxiety caused by clutter.

• Use harsh lighting. Swap out your daylight lightbulbs and use soft-white bulbs instead. Adding bedside lamps adds coziness.

• Overclutter your nightstands. Avoid distractions with just enough room for a lamp, a book, a small plant and perhaps a glass of water.

• Have your laundry baskets or piles of clothes visible. Reminders of undone chores do not make for good slumber.