| When you have trouble sleeping, do you reach for | | | | Be creative. You don't have to do the things the way |
| sleep aids to cure your insomnia? You are not alone. | | | | everyone else does. The only rule is that things need |
| But the consequences of chronic sleep aid use can be | | | | a home so they don't become clutter. |
| devastating to your health. Not only can sleep aids | | | | 4. Dust! Keep your bedroom as well dusted as you |
| cause depression, new research has shown that | | | | can. Excess dust in your room makes it harder for |
| some sleep aid users can develop an eating disorder | | | | you to breathe. It can cause allergy symptoms and |
| from taking sleeping pills! | | | | seriously disturb your sleep. Keep dusting wipes in a |
| "One woman gained 100 pounds before finally | | | | utility room near your bedroom so that you can |
| realizing that Ambien was at fault...Sleep-eating can | | | | easily dust frequently. Especially if you have pets. |
| occur spontaneously or in association with other | | | | Remember, don't only do the surfaces! Many people |
| drugs, so Ambien may not be the only culprit. But the | | | | let dust collect under beds, furniture, on curtains, etc. |
| researchers think that there's something about | | | | for months and sometimes even years. Do in-depth |
| Ambien that leads to sleep-eating in some people. | | | | dusting 2-4 times a year and you will sleep much |
| Presumably only a very small percentage of users are | | | | better. |
| susceptible, but with millions of Americans taking | | | | 5. Position your bed advantageously. In the practice |
| Ambien every year, the sleep-eaters could number in | | | | of Feng Shui, placement of objects is essential to |
| the thousands."Source: New York Times Editorial, | | | | encouraging positive energy flow. You should be able |
| March 14, 2006 | | | | to see the door from your bed, but not have your |
| It's amazing the ripple effects a single behavior can | | | | bed directly in front of the door. A power position in |
| have on the rest of your life. It's like that with | | | | the room allows you to feel more secure and sleep |
| organizing, too. Once you start rearranging your time, | | | | better overall. |
| space and stuff, the ripple effects can lead to | | | | 6. Change the sheets! Your sheets can be a source |
| remarkable improvements in your overall energy, | | | | of your insomnia in part because they collect dust. |
| happiness, and even your health! I have witnessed | | | | But they also absorb your energy! Sounds a little |
| powerful positive transformations in my clients' lives | | | | weird I know, but it's true. Think about it. You spend |
| as well as in my own life as a result of becoming | | | | 6-8 hours a night in them. And, don't you usually sleep |
| truly aware of the stuff that surrounds us and why | | | | best when you have nice clean fresh sheets? If you |
| it's there. The process of organizing requires that you | | | | don't believe me, try it anyway! What could it hurt? |
| make some tough decisions and become clear about | | | | Make sure you change your sheets at least once a |
| your values and purpose. | | | | week, but for some people who are very sensitive |
| The very act of taking charge of your stuff to make | | | | to energy and dust, every 3 to 5 days works much |
| it work to support your true intentions is | | | | better. If you have trouble sleeping, color could be |
| empowering. This is especially true in bedrooms. Many | | | | part of the problem. Sheets in soft, restful colors like |
| people view the bedroom as a place to put | | | | white, soft green and blue are the most relaxing. |
| everything they don't want other people to see, or | | | | 7. Do a comfort and ergonomics check. Are your |
| as a multifunctional space. They watch TV, exercise, | | | | pillows the right ones for you? Is your bed soft |
| work and more in the bedroom. The ripple effect of | | | | enough to not cut off your circulation during the |
| this is often insomnia, stress and related health | | | | night? Are the colors in your room soothing? Does |
| problems. Getting clear about the purpose of your | | | | your alarm clock wake you up gently or do you hate |
| bedroom, and organizing it to support your intention | | | | the sound of it? I found it much easier to wake up |
| will have dramatic effects on how well you sleep. | | | | once I started using a "dawn-simulating" alarm clock. |
| I was a chronic insomniac who took melatonin every | | | | 8. Let the light and air in. Refresh the energy in your |
| night to help me sleep. Using a combination of | | | | room daily. Open your blinds and let the natural light |
| organizing principles and Feng Shui strategies, I kicked | | | | in. If you can, air the room for at least 15 minutes as |
| the sleep aid habit and now get the best sleep of my | | | | well. Fresh air is a great way to help you sleep |
| life! Here are my top tips to help you get the sleep | | | | better. Don't you always find you sleep great after a |
| you need to stay energized, happy and healthy. | | | | day outdoors? |
| | | | 9. Start a nighttime routine and unwind at least 1-2 |
| 1. Take things that don't support sleep and romance | | | | hours before sleep. Don't work just before bed! Don't |
| out of your bedroom. The purpose of your bedroom | | | | do bills or watch the news or any other things that |
| is ultimately to support you in distressing and | | | | can cause you stress just before bed! So many |
| recharging you to be ready to deal with life. It should | | | | people watch the news in bed, or take work-related |
| serve you by helping you relax and sleep well. If you | | | | reading into bed with them, and then wonder why |
| aren't sleeping well, take a good look around your | | | | they can't sleep. Instead, choose activities that won't |
| room. Do you have a computer or work desk in | | | | get your adrenaline going or stress you. Start by |
| there? Exercise equipment? TV? Telephone? And if | | | | preparing for the next day. Make tomorrow's To Do |
| you have them all in there, it's no wonder you have | | | | list, pick out clothes, gather things you need to take |
| trouble sleeping! They don't do anything to help you | | | | with you, brush your teeth, hair, etc. Then relax. |
| relax or get to sleep. Find new homes for them. | | | | Create your own list of relaxing bedtime activities |
| Taking telephone out of our bedroom made a big | | | | such as take a leisurely walk, stretch, do yoga, do |
| difference for me. If you need to have one in your | | | | easy light household chores like picking up, read |
| bedroom, at least turn the ringer off. Sleep is too | | | | easy-on-the-mind books and magazines, watch light |
| important to let wrong numbers or telemarketers | | | | TV, listen to relaxing music or whatever relaxes you. |
| wake you up! | | | | Then when you feel sleepy, roll into bed! If you try |
| 2. Clear the clutter! If your bedroom is full of clutter, | | | | to sleep before you feel a little sleepy, you'll just toss |
| your mind will be cluttered too. If your mind is | | | | & turn. |
| cluttered, it's impossible to relax and sleep. Without a | | | | 10. Watch what you eat. Are you snacking on |
| clutter-free foundation, the tips below won't be as | | | | chocolate, soda, or other foods that may have |
| effective. So start with the floor and the surfaces in | | | | hidden caffeine in them after dinner? Are you eating |
| your room. Later, go deeper into closets and | | | | sugary foods or foods with lots of chemicals in them |
| drawers. Clear out the things you no longer use and | | | | before bed? What you eat, and when you eat it can |
| donate them to someone who can use them. Put | | | | seriously affect your sleep. If you snack before bed, |
| things in their proper home. If they don't have a | | | | choose whole, unprocessed foods as much possible! |
| home, make one for them. Throw out or repair | | | | Nuts, fruit, raw veggies, and homemade low salt |
| anything that is broken. Finish things that are undone | | | | popcorn are far better choices than candy, chocolate, |
| or get rid of them. Put your laundry in the hamper. | | | | ice cream or other dessert foods. Plan ahead to |
| Better yet, take the laundry out of the room and | | | | avoid snacking on junk foods before bed. |
| clean it! Clutter is stagnant energy. Clearing clutter is | | | | 11. Use earplugs. If you have a partner that snores, |
| the foundation to releasing stuck energy and getting | | | | or even if you yourself snore, stop waking yourself |
| a good night's sleep. | | | | up! Using earplugs changed my life and saved my |
| 3. Give everything in your room a home so you can | | | | marriage. Not only do I snore, so does my husband! |
| KEEP it free of clutter. One of the most common | | | | We both used to wake ourselves and each other up |
| sources of clutter in the bedroom is clothing you've | | | | constantly. Now, we both sleep much more restfully. |
| worn, but it's not dirty, so you don't want to put in | | | | It takes a little getting used to, but the rewards are |
| the hamper yet. Designate a space for your "gently | | | | well worth it. I can even sleep in hotels now! I |
| worn" clothing. This can be hooks placed on a door or | | | | recommend the soft foam type of earplugs. If they |
| inside your closet; a special drawer; a wardrobe shelf; | | | | are too big, you can trim them to size. |
| a coat rack, or even a chair -- just keep them neat | | | | 12. Keep a pen and paper by your bedside. If you |
| and don't use the floor or your bed! To maintain a | | | | can't sleep, often it's because your mind is racing. |
| clutter-free room, things need a home where it will | | | | Perhaps you are getting lots of ideas to solve a |
| be easy for you to find them again, AND where it will | | | | problem at work, or you are worried about a |
| be easy to put them away. If you have drawers, but | | | | meeting tomorrow. Whatever is rolling around in your |
| never put things in them, get rid of them. Use | | | | brain and won't stop, you need to get your thoughts |
| shelves or a wardrobe instead. If you don't have | | | | on paper so you can get them off your mind! This |
| one, get a table or nightstand with a drawer or a | | | | helps clear your mental clutter so you can rest! |
| private decorative box to keep near your bedside. | | | | These tips will get you well on your way to |
| Keep all your incidentals contained -- like earplugs, | | | | organizing your life so you can get a good night's |
| lotions, tissues, lint brushes, scissors, etc. so they | | | | sleep! If you can't do them all alone or aren't sure |
| don't contribute to clutter. If you have a lot of junk | | | | which are right for you, get help. Your sleep is too |
| on your dresser, sort like with like, and put it away in | | | | important. It affects your physical, mental, and even |
| one of the drawers. Use drawer dividers to give each | | | | spiritual health. It's not worth risking your health with |
| thing a home. Designate a drawer or shelf for purses. | | | | the chronic use of sleep aids. |