How your bedroom affects your sleep - Professor Simon Durrant explains
It’s true when they say your bedroom is your sanctuary. It’s the nook where we escape from the relentless pace of our daily lives and recharge our bodies and minds.
Being attentive to your sleeping environment can promote high quality rest that we all know is vital for cognitive functions and overall health. A chaotic bedroom can cause an inconsistent routine, poor quality sleep and trouble concentrating throughout the day.
But don’t worry, we sat down with Dr Simon Durrant from the University of Lincoln to let you know what you can do to make your bedroom your ultimate sleep environment.
Here’s his top do’s and don’ts for maxing your chances of some decent shut eye!
Professor Durrant says “an environment that is too light can disrupt your sleep as light affects your internal clock regulating your circadian rhythm. This internal clock then communicates with other parts of the brain that increase alertness”, keeping you tossing and turning throughout the night.
Wondering how to fix this? Dr Durrant recommends “investing in blackout blinds to keep external light out of the picture.”
It’s a no brainer that noise can keep you awake at night, but did you know bedroom clutter can also be destroying your chances of some beauty sleep. A cluttered environment can lead to increased stress levels and difficulty relaxing. “Ensuring your bedroom and the space around you is clutter-free can help to relax and wind down in preparation for sleep” says Dr Durrant.
If you’re familiar with the dreaded feeling of attempting to sleep through the summer heat, this one’s for you. Apart from the uncomfortableness of sleeping in hot weather, Dr Durrant informed us that “we have difficulty regulating our body temperature in certain sleep stages. This means we are more likely to wake up if we are exposed to heat.” Although I’m sure many of us have a cold shower before bed at this time of the year, he says “It should not be a cold shower. The idea is actually that the body temperature increases during the shower and the return to a normal temperature is a trigger for sleep.” As well as this, wearing cool, breathable clothing and lowering the room temperature before bed are all ways you can reduce your body temperature to have a peaceful sleep.
If you feel like your bedroom needs a few alterations to become your ultimate sleep sanctuary, then make sure you’re following these tips. And get ready to experience your best sleep yet!