After a long, tiring day, all most of us want to do is to unwind and relax, but with everything that we have going on, all the things we still have to do it’s not always easy.
The environment we spend our time in can either hinder our ability to unwind or it can help us calm our mind and relax our body. Having at least one room in the house where we can get away from it all and switch off, makes it all so much easier.
Finding a space where you can fully relax and unwind is vital to your physical and mental health. Make your bedroom into your sanctuary and get the rest and relaxation you need and deserve.
The one place we really need to be able to relax is our bedroom. We all know that a good night’s sleep is important, but so few of us manage to do it well on a regular basis. Having a good nights sleep is great for both physical and mental health, providing higher energy levels, productivity and concentration. On average an adult needs 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
When your bedroom is clean, tidy an organised it is much easier to relax, unwind and get a restful night’s sleep. And the better sleep we have, the more energy we have the next day.
So how relaxing is your bedroom?
1. First things first… de-clutter your room:
· Bed - Start by making your bed – this is the main attraction in this room so make it look good. A made bed is much more inviting to get into, so start by making the bed and arranging the pillows.
· Floor - Pick any clothes up off the floor or draped over the chair – put them in the wash basket or hang them up (depending on if they have been worn or not).
· Floor (part 2) - Pick up anything else on the floor such as books, magazines etc. Find a home for them or if you have finished with the magazine put in the recycling.
· Bedside cabinets – Put away (find a home for) anything that does not need to be there.
· Dresser top or other furniture tops – As above - put away (find a home for) anything that does not need to be there.
· Under the bed – Yes, I know you can’t see it, but just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean that it’s not having a negative effect on your peace and tranquillity – put out anything from under the bed and sort through. Decide if you need it/want it (is it useful or beautiful?) if the answer is yes then find it a home, if not - donate it/recycle it/ bin it.
· Wardrobe - If you have got this far and you’re still feeling inspired and motivated, now may be a good time to clear out the wardrobe – if doing the above steps has taken you longer than you thought and you are almost de-cluttered out, you may be best to save this for another day, when you can focus and think straight. For those of you ready to keep going… keep going!
Go through each item in your wardrobe one-by-one. Ask yourself the following:
1. Is it in good condition?
2. When was the last time I wore this?
3. Did I feel good in it?
4. Do I still like it?
5. Am I ever going to wear it again?
If you answered yes to questions 1, 2,3,4 & 5 it’s probably a keeper, unless you answered more than 12 months ago for question 2. If you haven’t worn it in the last 12 months, ask yourself why. You should now be able to make a very sensible decision on whether it stays or goes.
If you answered no to questions 1, 2,3,4 or 5, you know what to do :)
Donate it / Recycle it / Bin it
To make it a real sanctuary, it is advisable to clear out any distractions.
Ideally remove any tv’s, computers, work related items etc.
You may think it’s relaxing to watch tv in bed before you go to sleep, when in fact it acts as stimulant and is likely to keep you awake longer, or affect your sleep quality, as it can reduce your natural production of melatonin. If you really enjoy watching tv in bed make sure you turn it off half an hour to an hour before you want to go to sleep.
Same thing goes with your laptop and phone, neither one of these is going to help you get a good night’s sleep. If you must have your phone in your room, leave it slightly out of your reach, to make you less tempted to pick it up and start scrolling.
Okay so that’s the de-cluttering and re-organising done, now for the cleaning. Get out your cleaning products and clean every surface, and any items on display. We want dust and dirt free, shiny surfaces, lamps and any knick-knacks you have out.
Time to clean the floor, vacuum the whole room, not forgetting under the bed. Get the mop out if you have hard flooring.
Once you have put away all the cleaning products and tools, stand back and admire all your hand work… how much better does that look? More importantly, how much better does that feel?
After all that work you must be almost ready for a good night’s sleep.
So now just the finishing touches:
2. Make the room smell as good as it looks, a diffuser with some essential oils such as lavender or a relaxation blend, or a scented candle, wax melts etc. Anything as long as it makes you feel calm, relaxed and happy.
3. Soft lighting use lamps instead of the main ceiling lights or add a dimmer where possible.
4. Add some artwork or photo’s that you find relaxing, calming or just make you feel good.
5. Keep the room at a suitable temperature. If your room is too warm it will not be comfortable to sleep in. (Optimum temperature for a bedroom is between 16 – 20 degrees Celsius (60-67 degrees Fahrenheit).
6. Play some soft, relaxing, calming music before you are ready to turn off the lights.
Why not have a warm bath, put on your favourite pyjamas and enjoy a good nights rest, you deserve it! xxx
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