Your bedroom is a place where you can express yourself, go to unwind and relax, and sleep. We want our bedroom to reflect our personality but also serve as a conducive place to sleep soundly. Sometimes those two do not go hand in hand, but it can be challenging to figure out what will disrupt your sleep. We've compiled a guide of five considerations when setting up your perfect sleep environment.
1. Lighting
Too much light can trick our brain into thinking it's daytime; this is especially true for blue light (e.g., phones, TVs, computers). Experts state that if there is enough light for you to read a book at night in your room, there's too much light. Consider turning off the TV (if you have one) or unplugging that night light. This doesn't mean the room needs to be pitch black dark, but any light you choose to keep should be dim. If you prefer a soft glow, try a salt lamp. They produce soft light that's not harsh enough to impact your sleep.
2. Sound
Trying to sleep in a room that's too noisy likely won't result in much sleep. Sometimes the noise isn't coming from your room directly but from a next-door neighbor or roommate. Luckily, we live in a modern-day and age where there are many available technologies to combat noisiness. Try a white sound machine to drown out the excess noise if you're struggling with a noisy neighbor. Alternatively, if you are dealing with a noisy roommate, opt for some comfortable noise-canceling headphones to block away any noise they may make.
3. Comfort
This tip is pretty obvious. Sleeping on an uncomfortable bed is not fun, and you likely will struggle to get to sleep and stay asleep. If you do manage to fall asleep, then you risk aches and pains in the morning. To combat an uncomfortable mattress, try a mattress topper. Mattress toppers come in varying levels of softness, so you're sure to find one that will fit your comfort level. Moreover, you can take a mattress topper wherever you move, so if you decide to move to a different dorm room to evade your noisy neighbor, you won't be leaving comfort behind.
4. Temperature
The optimal temperature for sleeping is approximately 65 degrees, but this can vary from person to person based on preference. A more liberal recommended range is 60 to 72. Any warmer or colder and sleep can suffer. There's nothing worse than waking up sweating, or conversely, waking up shivering. If you live in a building that runs a bit warmer, consider breathable bedding to help provide the illusion of coolness. Alternatively, if you live in a cooler climate and notice yourself frequently waking up with chills, opt for bedding that holds in heat like wool or invest in a heated blanket.
5. Reduce Clutter
Clutter is known to impact our mood. In fact, experts state that clutter can cause us to feel more anxious and depressed; there is a known link between anxiety and depression and sleep. Keeping your room tidy and cleaned up can help prevent and unintended sleep disruptions. Try storage solutions such as closet organizers or bins if you live in a small space and find it challenging to keep organized. You can even raise your bed to add an extra storage option under your bed!
