Prior to September 2021, I was working until 22:30 some days and 15:00 other days. I have also suffered with insomnia since the age of 16. Now that I finally have a 9-5 job, I have been able to sort out my sleep routine. Getting good sleep has really changed my mental wellbeing and overall happiness. However, it wasn’t easy; I have been on a mission to have a regular bedtime and not dread trying to sleep.
Having a relaxing environment is vital for good sleep hygiene so I thought I would try and improve this for myself. I moved into this apartment in August 2021 and I have not had the finances to do much with it as of yet so I am working with what I already have. Creating a beautiful and peaceful bedroom can be done on a budget!
Here is my Nightstand Previously
This plant is dying here and is just too large for the space. I have this moon lamp which I love and a Google Nest Mini. I always wanted to try the Phillips alarm clock that simulates a sun rise but they are so expensive! If anyone has one, let me know in the comments if you think they’re worth it. My nightstand is from Ikea.
I’m not hiding anything; this is real life. Although there isn’t loads of clutter, the inside of my drawer was a chaotic mess of wires and random objects. It didn’t induce much peace trying to rummage around for ear plugs in the dark when the cats are scratching at my door at 5am.
I had these boxes from Ikea which fit perfectly in the drawer, I removed the lids so I can access everything easily. I sorted out the cable management around my nightstand and inside. I stuck down the extension plugs with some command strips and used Velcro cable wraps to tie everything up neatly. I got rid of anything that I didn’t need in there and organised the items into the containers.
Here is the After
On top of my nightstand, I changed the plant for something smaller and added a print I had. I also had this cute bowl I found in a charity shop (thrift store) for £0.50 where I keep my hair tie and any jewellery I take off at night.
Creating a Bedtime Routine
I have a little routine at night where I turn my moon lamp on, use the room spray and get into bed. I take 5-htp from Bulk as a supplement before bed as I have low serotonin levels. Serotonin is a precursor of melatonin, which is what you need to get sleepy. I always use a silk eye mask for the same reason, darkness induces melatonin, getting you ready to sleep; my sleep is always disturbed without both. I would suggest silk or cotton to protect your skin as synthetic fabrics will harbour bacteria.
What do you do to create a peaceful sleeping environment? Do you have any good tips for better sleep?
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Please consult your Doctor before trying supplements and do not take 5-htp if you are on anti-depressants or SSRI’s as they might interact.
