I laughed when I read a recent email. Its headline: “Tips for more restful sleep.” I had to laugh because I not only need restful sleep, I’d be happy to get more sleep. Preferably restful, of course.
The email’s content went on to mention “simple things you can do to make it easier to fall asleep.” Essentially, they acknowledged the need to get to sleep in the first place. After all, one can’t experience a good quality of sleep if she can’t even get to sleep. Right?
The one main suggestion was to “make your bedroom as quiet as possible.” That’s a great suggestion. But when hubby, who’s a little hard of hearing, is watching a ballgame right next door in the living room, it’s not easy to have a quiet bedroom. Evidently, they understand such a predicament, as the tips were ways to solve this problem.
Wear Earplugs
I’ve tried earplugs. They were fine when I was lying on my back. But when I turned on my side, which is how I usually sleep, the earplugs push into my ear. Ouch! Not a comfortable feeling. Certainly not conducive to sleep.
Quieting the Bedroom
Their next advice for quieting the bedroom was one I’ve read many times. That is, “decorating with heavy curtains and rugs, which absorb sound.” While that’s a good suggestion, curtains and rugs are also dust catchers. The more dust in our bedroom, the more I sneeze. The more I sneeze, the more I suffer from insomnia.
Another tip for quieting a bedroom was “installing double-pane windows.” I’m assuming this is to quiet city noise, which is not an issue for those who live in a quiet neighborhood. I’m curious, however, about how much noise reduction extra glass would provide. I’ve always thought sounds bounce off of hard surfaces, such as glass.
Add White Noise
The last tip was “adding ‘white noise’ either by purchasing a device designed specifically to provide this kind of steady hum, running a fan, or purchasing CDs or downloading apps that provide soothing sounds.” I’ve also tried this one. I downloaded an app with a great selection. The soothing sounds help me a lot when I write. But when I tried to get to sleep, the sounds worked the opposite with my brain. They kept me awake. I’m guessing it’s because the sounds are competing with all the other noises going on in my mind when I’m trying to get to sleep.
The tips helped me realize it’s not so much a need to quiet the bedroom. For me, it’s a need to quiet my mind.
The email concluded with a link to purchase a book, Improving Sleep, “an instructive and fact-filled report from Harvard Medical School.” The book includes, among many other topics, “the benefits of ‘strategic naps’.” Aren’t they all strategic? (Again, I had to laugh). It also made me wonder why, as a child, I fought against taking naps. I’m thinking it’s because they weren’t “strategic.”
What Do You Think?
Which of the tips did you find most helpful? Do you need to quiet the bedroom or quiet your mind? What suggestions do you have a more restful sleep, or for getting to sleep?