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, and 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. Use these ideas to turn your bedroom into your own personal relaxing 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 night’s sleep is essential 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 provides a safe space for you to relax, unwind and get that restful night’s sleep your body and mind needs. And the better quality sleep we have, the more energy, focus and clarity we have the next day.
So how relaxing is your bedroom?
1. First things first… declutter 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, clean bedding, laid evenly and flat across the bed with pillows plumped.
· Floor - Pick any clothes up off the floor or draped over the chair – put them in the wash basket or hang them up, or fold neatly and place on shelf or in drawers (depending on if they have been worn or not).
· Floor (part 2) - Pick up anything else on the floor such as shoes, bags, beauty items/products, cushions, cups, rubbish, books, magazines etc. Find a home for them, put them in the bin/recycling or put them in a bag for the charity shop.
· Bedside cabinets – Put away (find a home for) anything that does not need to be there, throw away anything that’s no longer wanted along with any rubbish. The top of your bedside cabinet need to only have things you need to access when in bed such as a lamp, glass of water, a book you are currently reading, affirmation cards.
· Dresser top or other furniture tops – As above - put away (find a home for) anything that does not need to be there, throw away anything that’s no longer wanted along with any rubbish. Your dresser needs only items that you uses daily such as mirror, make up brush pot, etc or items that make you smile when you look at them, such as an ornament or photo frame.
· Under the bed – Yes, I know you can’t see it, but it is a misconception that if you can’t see it, it’s not having a negative effect on your peace and tranquillity – pull 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 decluttered 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 decluttering 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?
Now you have completely decluttered and tidied your bedroom and are ready to relax both you mind and body take a look at these ideas to create a relaxing bedroom sanctuary that talks to as many of your senses as possible...
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 light a scented candle, wax melts etc. Anything as long as it makes you feel calm, relaxed and happy.
3. Soft lighting - use lamps with a soft, warm globe 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 night’s rest, you deserve it.
I hope you enjoyed reading 6 Ideas to Help Turn Your Bedroom into Your Own Personal Relaxing Sanctuary if you did you may enjoy Why I Love My PJ’s and My New Self Care Routine and 14 Self care Quotes That Will Inspire You to Take Some Time Out for Yourself
Drop in to my Etsy store Positive Life by Design for great printables to help you on your journey.
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