There is an epidemic that is affecting many adults in the United States: sleep deprivation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 3 adults, or 35% of Americans aged 18 and above, do not get enough sleep on a regular basis.
Sleep is important to one’s physical and mental health. Studies have proven that people who do not get quality sleep for seven to nine hours per day are at a higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and type-2 diabetes. Lack of sleep has also been linked to depression and other mental illnesses.
Open Your Windows During the Day
Being exposed to natural light has tons of benefits but, most importantly, it will let you sleep peacefully at night. Sunshine resets your circadian rhythm — your internal clock — which keeps you awake during the day and asleep at night.
If you have trouble sleeping, use indoor solar shades which are incredibly useful, especially in Miami where it is always warm and sunny. These types of coverings allow you to have better control of the amount of natural light that comes into your home. Having shades are also great if you decide you want to wake up a little later during the day because you can simply pull them down to block the sun.
Change Your Paint Color
Your bedroom paint should put you in the mood to sleep. Although vibrant orange and bright yellow are in fashion right now, these colors may not be inducing feelings of serenity and relaxation.
Experts believe that blue is the most ideal wall paint color for bedrooms. That is because blue evokes calm which your ganglion cells, the specialized receptor found in your eyes, pick up. The ganglion cells are responsible for relaying messages to the part of your brain responsible for your circadian rhythm.
The National Sleep Foundation also recommends other relaxing shades like gray, silver, and neutrals.
Move Your Television Outside
Binge-watching your favorite show while in bed may have become a habit to most, but it does not help you sleep at night. Exposure to blue light, which television and smartphone screens emit, keep you wide awake.
Delegate your bedroom as a place for relaxation, which means that you might have to ban the use of electronic devices inside it. If you have a television in your bedroom, move it to the living room. Once you are about to sleep, turn off your smartphone.
Start Taking Care of Houseplants
Houseplants are popular interior design elements, especially among young people. However, did you know that they do more wonderful things other than to make a room look more alive?
Houseplants are known for improving indoor air quality. They grab toxins that may harm you and then produce oxygen which you, in turn, breathe in. As a result, you can rest easy knowing that the air you inhale is clean and free from any harmful gases.
The bigger and leafier the plant, the better. However, if you want something that is easy to care for, go for snake plants or mother-in-law’s tongue. Snake plants can tolerate most indoor conditions.
Of course, giving your bedroom a makeover alone will not make you sleep better at night. You should also eat a balanced diet, exercise, avoid caffeine, and sleep and wake up at consistent times every day.