Starting a family can be disastrous for your beauty sleep. After you’ve moved past the nighttime feeding stage, you’ll often discover the joys of a five a.m. wake-up.
But sleep is something that we all need. It’s therefore essential that you take steps to preserve yours against all of the family-related factors that might conspire to deprive you of it.
Why sleep affects mood, relationships and daily routines
The exact purpose of sleep, and the neurological mechanisms that underpin it, are still a matter of some debate amongst the experts. What everyone recognises, however, is that a lack of sleep leads to a loss of quality in your waking life. You might find your mind wandering, and your temper boiling over. This can lead to splits and disagreements at home. If you’re feeling irritable or drained, it might be that simply getting a few hours more sleep each night solves the problem.
Creating a bedroom environment that promotes quality sleep
So, what’s to be done?
The first answer lies with your sleep environment. If you don’t have a bedroom in which you can easily drift off, then your sleep will suffer. You might have found yourself lacking mental sharpness and energy during a heat wave, simply because your bedroom is too hot.
According to the latest advice, the ideal temperature for a bed is around 29°C – beneath the duvet. Your mileage might vary, however, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Reducing household disruptions that impact rest
Ideally, you’ll want to get rid of screens in the bedroom. You’ll also want to invest in a set of heavy curtains that will exclude all light from outside. Vertical blinds are often sufficient, if the rest of the bedroom supports them.
You might also look at your lighting setup within the room. Avoid over-bright bulbs, and try to dim with the aid of an automated schedule. You might also be judicious in your use of colours. Oversaturated, bold hues on your walls might make it trickier to drift off in the evening.
Building healthy sleep habits for the whole family
By instilling the right sleep habits in your family, you’ll set everyone up for a lifetime of quality sleep. Keep bedtime consistent, and be ruthless in your battle against pre-bedtime screen usage. Any homework that requires the use of a computer monitor can be done several hours before lights-out.
