Americans are getting less sleep than ever before. For the first time since 2001, the majority of the country’s adults -over 57%- say they’d feel better if they slept more. That’s because we’re more stressed today than we were three decades ago. That significantly impacts sleep quality: if you sleep less, you get more stressed, and if you’re more stressed, you sleep less.
However, that stress comes part and parcel with modern life. The digital age means hyperconnectivity. Family, friends, and coworkers can reach you at all times of the day, and it’s easier to fall into internet rabbit holes that rob you of the nightly shut-eye you need.
We’re also experiencing multiple historical events unfold before our eyes, whether it be the COVID-19 pandemic or climate change. Since we’re hyperconnected, we always know what’s going on, and that can leave us even more drained at the end of each day.
So, how exactly can you ward off that stress and get the rest you need? Consider setting goals that focus on making rest and mindfulness a priority in your bedroom and a significant part of your daily routine.
Continue reading to find out why proper rest should be a health and wellness goal and which steps you can take to transform your space and improve your overall sleep habits.
Why a Restful Bedroom Enhances Your Well-Being
According to a survey conducted by the organization Healthy Sleep, getting proper sleep benefits individuals beyond health outcomes, including improved heart health, reduced stress levels, enhanced focus and memory, and a lower risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes. Good sleep quality can also be associated with success and achievement.
Compared to bad sleepers, people who get an average of 7 hours of sleep every night are more equipped to reach their personal objectives. For example, they are twice more likely to succeed in their careers and 1.8 times more likely to improve their confidence and self-esteem.
Regardless of their personal and professional ambitions, good sleepers not only managed to plan out specific steps to reaching their goals but were also able to track their progress towards these goals.
But how does creating a restful and relaxing bedroom play a role in sleeping better and attaining success? As we note in The Science of Relaxation, simply making a space more restful can significantly lower your stress levels. That’s because the environment you’re in is intrinsically connected to your mental health.
If you sense things in your bedroom that you don’t like-whether it’s clutter, mold, or the smell of old laundry-you’ll get stressed out. Maybe they remind you of a chore you forgot and don’t have the time to do, or perhaps they just make you feel overwhelmed.
By putting effort into infusing more positive energy into your bedroom, you can get rid of anything in the area that stresses you out. Ultimately, you’ll be creating a more mindful space where you can get the rest you need to boost your well-being.
As such, you can consider the tips in the following section to help you set goals for proper rest in your bedroom and become happier, healthier, and more productive.
How to Set Goals for Proper Rest in Your Bedroom
Prioritize Comfort
Ensuring you aren’t uncomfortable at night can make it easier to fall asleep and instantly make your bedroom more restful.
If you feel like you don’t have enough space to lie down, you can start by investing in a larger bed frame. California King bed sets have become extremely popular in recent years, as they can accommodate one of the largest mattress sizes available. Cali Kings are narrower than regular King beds, but longer, which can help alleviate discomfort especially if you’re tall. Sets like the Hillsboro and Larkin on retailer Living Spaces even come with additional storage worked into the bed frames, so you can better follow the decluttering tip laid out above.
Another way to prioritize comfort as a rest-related goal is to be specific about the type of sleeping environment you want. If you’re more comfortable sleeping in a dark, quiet, and cool bedroom, you must consider using a sleeping mask to block out the light, wearing earplugs to ward off background noise, and setting the thermostat to your liking.
Incorporate Meditation into Your Space
To make your bedroom a refuge truly conducive to both restfulness and mindfulness, you can add a few more final touches and create a meditative space. A bedroom that relaxes all of your senses-like the practice of meditation-can more effectively reduce your stress and get you ready for bedtime.
The right scent can greatly influence your mood and allow you to meditate. Mint, for example, is a great energizer for meditative exercises like yoga. Conversely, lavender, jasmine, and chamomile exhibit more calming effects that will help you think deeply while praying or writing in your journal.
Though you can use a scented candle (that will double as a soft source of light) or a pillow mist, a scent diffuser can more consistently add the right aroma to your room to better create a more meditative atmosphere.
The smart Febreze Fade Defy PLUG shows that they don’t necessarily need a lot of attention, either, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about at bedtime. It automatically tracks the temperature of your room to control how much scent is released, so you can set it and forget it for up to 50 days.
Create a No-Work Zone in Your Room
Lastly, it helps to create a clear separation between the spaces you use for rest and work. You can start by removing or relocating work-related items like your laptop, papers, and phone away from your bed, then continuously assessing your room for work-related triggers that make it hard to mentally disconnect from work and get proper sleep.
Remember to make this goal time-bound by setting a schedule and limiting your work hours. This will give you enough time to meditate and get ready for bed.
By being specific with your rest-related goals and continuously monitoring your progress, you can enjoy a restful space and meditate your way toward success in health, lifestyle, and other key areas of your life.
About the Author
Ruth Joseph is a writer and life coach who focuses on topics like health, wellness, and self-improvement. On days she is not in front of her computer writing articles and talking to clients, you can find her doing yoga or walking her dog at the park.
