The beginning of summer reminds me of summer evenings when I was a child.
As I was of school age, I went to bed when it was still light outside. At first, I felt a bit cheated, especially if some of the older kids were still playing outside (remember when children did that), but then I would settle down and really enjoy it.
My bedroom window would be wide open so I could hear the birds chirping before they also settled down for the evening. I would stack my pillows behind me, grab my teddy and settle down to write my diary and then read my book.
Funny, when you are a kid, going to bed early was a punishment but when you’re an adult, it’s the best thing ever! I feel as if I’m cheating time if I take myself off to bed a couple of hours earlier than my usual bedtime. It may feel indulgent, as there is always a list of other things we could be doing. But it's important to stop.
I personally love to read, write my journal / diary, and enjoy listening to the birds, deer, owls, and other wildlife outside of our bedroom window. And still settle down before my usual bedtime.
Here are some tips for creating a tranquil bedroom. A space that feels calm and comfortable which you can enjoy before settling down to sleep. It doesn't have to be a space where you just go to sleep. Enjoy it for an hour or two before you lay down.
PREPERATION
If you haven’t had chance to change your bedding (oh the bliss of fresh sheets), when you climb out of bed in the morning fold your duvet back to allow air to circulate and your bed to cool.
Let the fresh air in. Open your windows to keep the air flowing. Unless it’s hot outside, then close your window and pop the fan on! The optimum temperature for sleep is 18 degrees Celsius.
If you have children, make sure they’re already in bed, or if they are older, tell them this is ‘Mummy time’ and only interrupt you if the house is burning down! (joking) Other than that, they are to leave you in peace. Same rules apply to your partner! You just want a little shhh…
Treat yourself to freshly laundered cotton nightwear. Cotton will help keep you cool.
Always have a glass of water on your bedside table.
Make yourself a cup of decaffeinated tea, coffee, or herbal tea to take up to bed.
Light a lavender scented candle or burn a wax melt to help you to relax. (From a safety perspective, extinguish all candles before you go to sleep).
Turn your phone off or keep it out of the bedroom. If you use your phone as an alarm clock, try to invest in a proper clock at some point. I’m guilty of this and having it right by the bed is so tempting for a bedtime scroll. We all know screens are bad at bedtime. Try to stop screen time at least an hour before bedtime.
Have your book or magazine handy. Once you're comfy in bed, you don’t want to have to get up again.
Have a notebook to hand. Whenever I sit and relax, I sometimes get ideas for my business, home life or DIY projects. It’s good to jot these down so you can clear them from your mind, ready for a good night’s sleep.
If you have a TV in your bedroom, or an iPad that you usually binge boxsets on, then try not to for this time. Switch off from all technology and go back to basics and enjoying the simple things.
WHILST IN BED
If you want to pamper yourself whilst you sit and relax, pop on your favourite face mask to hydrate your skin whilst you read.
When you first climb into bed, sit for a couple of minutes, and focus just on your breathing. Close your eyes and take a few slow deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth to calm yourself and get rid of any tension.
Plump your cushions so you’re nice and comfy and your spine is supported and relax into reading or writing your journal. Or use this time to just enjoy the peace and quiet and focus on your breathing.
Sip your drink and relish in the fact that you have managed to carve out this time just for you. You deserve it.
Our lives are getting busier, so it’s important to try and carve out some time in the day, or week or even month, to just have a bit of calm. And what better place to do this, than in your bedroom, surrounded by pillows. Create a sanctuary and enjoy. Sweet dreams.