5 Simple Tips For Creating A Restful Tech-Free Bedroom
Author: Mercedes Papalia
The kitchen may be the heart of a home, but a bedroom is most definitely the soul. It’s where we go to relax and rejuvenate. When we sleep, our nervous system, physical body and active mind have the opportunity to reset. It’s more important now than ever to mindfully create a space that encourages the necessary rest our body and brain need to survive and thrive.
Unfortunately, 90% of us have a little rectangle of modern technology on our nightstands that infiltrates our sacred physical, mental, and emotional space. Recent study’s show that 90% of young people sleep with their smartphones, 95% of people use their phone just before falling asleep, and half of the population check their phones if they wake up throughout the night.
So many of us are guilty of allowing the blue light of our cell phones to decrease the level of melatonin (our beloved sleep hormone) needed in order for a full night's sleep. This can be a factor in our day to day productively, energy level, ability to focus, irritability, and overall happiness. The short and long term effects of electronic devices on our sleep has led to the notion of a Technology free bedroom.
We’ve assembled 5 Simple Tips For Creating A Restful Tech-Free Bedroom.
1. Make it sacred.
Be it candles, saje, incense, flowers, art, or the sound of ocean waves, make a list of the things that make you feel calm and at ease. Get creative in incorporating these into your decor and the functionality of your space. A before bed ritual of listening to relaxing music by candlelight as a replacement for scrolling or late night emails can work wonders for our overall health, and raise our energetic frequency.
2. Go old school.
If you like to read on your phone before bed, keep a few of your favourite books nearby. Yes, actual hard copy paper with printed words on them. If you’re not a reader, start with a book of short stories and encourage yourself to open to any page and dig into a quick one before bed.
3. Use lavender.
Lavender is known for its many super powers, but mainly as a sleep aid. There are so many ways to incorporate this magical plant into your technology free bedroom, outlined perfectly in this article by Restonic.
4. Clean your room.
This is normally a thing parents yell at their kids followed by an eye roll from the unimpressed youth. You can omit screentime from your bedroom, but mess and disorganization is just another vice that affects your sleep patterns and stress levels. A clean room is key to better sleep, and will optimize the effects of your tech-free bedroom.
5. Make rules.
First, be honest with yourself. What are you doing on your phone right before bed or as soon as you wake up? Are you writing emails that absolutely need to get sent at that time? Scrolling? Watching the news? How does it affect you? Start with two weeks of one screen-free hour before bed, and again once you wake up. Journal all the changes you’re experiencing in your asleep and awake hours. Include notes on what you’re doing in replacement of that hour every morning and evening. You may be surprised by the drastic effects of this simple change.
If your phone is your alarm, even better. Leave it right outside your door so you need to get up to turn it off. You’re less likely to hit snooze once you’re out of bed.
A tech-free space is the perfect excuse for a little bedroom makeover, even if it’s just reorgazing, minimizing, and bringing good vibes into your boudoir. You have nothing to lose, except restless sleep!
