Tidy Room = Tidy Mind and Better Sleep

7 October 2020 James Brooke

TEMPUR® sleep expert and chartered psychologist shares tips on ensuring your bedroom is a sanctuary for sleep.

The bedroom should be a sanctuary for sleep and yet, even at the best of times, our bedrooms so often become dumping grounds for the debris of life and end up filled with disorganised mounds of clothes, piles of bank statements or bills and the general clutter that we don’t want on show to work colleagues on our next video call or should anyone spontaneously pop round… Hardly the most relaxing place to enjoy a peaceful slumber every night.

TEMPUR® sleep expert and chartered psychologist, Suzy Reading, is a firm believer in creating a sleep sanctuary and here, highlights the importance of decluttering and organising your bedroom in order to help achieve a better night’s sleep.

“There’s no doubt about it – we’re all busy and many of us can’t remember the last time we didn’t feel tired,” says TEMPUR® sleep expert, Suzy, “but many people don’t realise that the environment we sleep in can have such a huge impact on our ability to enjoy quality sleep.

“Preparing for bed by entering a messy and cluttered bedroom is far from relaxing. So by dedicating a little extra time to keeping your bedroom tidy, organised and clutter free, you’ll find you not only feel less stressed and distracted come bedtime but, it will also help kick your day off positively as there will be no frantic searching for things come the morning.”

Read on for Suzy’s insights.

Declutter your room to declutter your mind

We tend to hold on to physical belongings, often attached to the emotion behind them more than the physical item itself.

In order to ensure your bedroom is a sleep sanctuary, it’s always helpful to clear it of the unnecessary clutter to help to reduce mental and physical stressors. Like renowned organiser Marie Kondo suggests, consider whether an item sparks joy or is useful, and if it’s neither of these things it’s time to re-evaluate whether you need to keep it. You can always keep a box of items you’re unsure about in your garage or attic for a week or so and if in that time you don’t miss them, you know it’s fine to donate or sell.

Scale back on tech in the bedroom too – just the sight of your laptop or phone, even if they’re switched off can increase stress levels. Plus you’ll be less tempted to check work emails or social media if it means moving to another room.

Dedicating some time to decluttering your bedroom will help you work through these emotions – decluttering your mind as well as your room.

Get organised

Now that you’ve decluttered, it’s time to look at organising your bedroom and making sure it works for you. This doesn’t have to be drastic. For example, if you’ve got a constant pile of clothing waiting to be washed dumped in one corner, invest in a decent sized washing basket. There are all sorts of attractive wicker baskets and colourful canvas bags that are far more pleasant to look at than to a pile of dirty laundry.

Really take time to consider if there are any practical items that would make your life easier: perhaps an extra hanging rail for winter coats now that the weather is cooling down; a shoe rack to stop you hiding your shoes under the bed; a jewellery box or organiser to clear some space on the dresser; some extra shelving or drawer space if things are piling on the chair…

Out of sight does not equal out of mind, so don’t forget about sorting through your drawers and shelves. There’s no point decluttering and organising your bedroom if the drawers are chaotic! Make sure your clothes are folded neatly and any items you don’t love or wear frequently are donated to a local charity shop.

And don’t forget about papers. We all have a drawer for ‘important’ documents and it’s easy for this to become a stopgap for anything we don’t know what to do with but don’t want to throw away. Put aside half an hour to go through everything in your paper drawer – you really don’t need a bank statement from an account you closed in 2003. Store papers neatly in labelled folders so that you can easily find the information you need, when you need it.

Just make sure to shred any documents with personal details if they are no longer required.

Make your room yours

Everyone’s sleep sanctuary should be unique to them, so make sure you add your own stamp to your bedroom. After all, everyone’s definition of relaxation is unique.

Make sure to display any items that you really love or that have true sentimental value; but be honest with yourself – don’t go over-board with too many items on display if you will find this overwhelming.

Here are some simple ways to add your personality to your bedroom without breaking the bank or re-introducing excess clutter:

Create a visually striking gallery wall using framed postcards, photos or artwork
Invest in some cosy bed throws or scatter cushions in your favourite colour for autumn/winter.
Re-arrange your bookshelves – everyone has a preferred way to display their favourite books; whether it’s by author, cover colour, size or theme
Visit the local garden centre and buy some air purifying plants such as a Weeping Fig, Golden Pothos or English Ivy
Rearrange your furniture. It is amazing how refreshing small adjustments to the room can feel – find your feng shui!

And finally…

Once you’ve got your physical space clean, organised and suitably prepped for sleep it’s time to focus on yourself. Contrary to what many of us attempt each night, we can’t simply jump from our busy day into bed and expect to fall asleep instantly, no matter how relaxing our sleep environment is.

Start winding down an hour before bed in order to signal to your body that you’re nearing bedtime; a warm bath with lavender, a chamomile tea, a gentle meditation or journaling are all perfect ways to relax and prepare for sleep. The more relaxed you are, the better the quality and quantity of sleep you’re likely to enjoy.

Come morning you’ll be bright eyed and bushy tailed and you’ll find getting ready for your day a breeze thanks to how organised your bedroom is.

And don’t forget to make your bed! No matter how tidy your room is, if your bed isn’t made it will feel messy.

For more information on Tempur, visit www.tempur.co.uk

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About TEMPUR
TEMPUR researches, develops, engineers, manufactures and distributes mattresses, pillows and other sleep products to improve the sleep experience worldwide.

TEMPUR mattresses and pillows are made from a formulation of the brand’s proprietary pressure absorbing TEMPUR material, originally developed by NASA in the 1970s to support and cushion astronauts during lift-off.

TEMPUR mattresses offer maximum quality, comfort, support, durability, value for money and aid a restorative night’s sleep.

TEMPUR products can be purchased direct via the TEMPUR UK website, from any of eleven TEMPUR brand stores and outlets, or from leading retailers including Dreams, John Lewis, Bensons for Beds, Furniture Village and leading independent retailers.

Trusted and promoted by medical practitioners around the world, TEMPUR is the only mattress product recognised by NASA and certified by the Space Foundation.

TEMPUR is a subsidiary of TEMPUR Sealy International Inc.

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