#LifeHacks: Celebrate National Make your Bed Day!

*Yawnnn* Happy National Make Your Bed Day! We all love that moment when we come home from a long day of work or school the first thing you want to do it lay down in bed for a nap- or sleep all together! Here are some tips on how making your bed after that wonderful sleep can actually benefit your sleep pattern in the long run!

A great night's sleep can sometimes be hard to come by constantly. However the comfort you feel in your bedroom environment ultimately starts with the way your bed is made each morning.

Studies have shown that people who make their bed daily are more likely to have a better night's sleep. The sight of a nicely made bed will create comfort in your brain without you even laying down yet. Freshly fitted sheets, pulled comforters and fluffed pillows also play a factor in mastering elevated sleep comfort.

Besides the comfort aspect, the visual appearance invited us to a nice slumber- one that you can take without even having to make yourself feel comfortable first or even having to get to that right spot of the bed.

Being faced with crumpled sheets, twisted blankets and soggy pillows at the end of an already long day can cause frustration.

But don't you worry- here on National Make Your Bed Day we are challenging you to make this habit stick! Make your bed as a morning routine of yours each day. Set aside 5 minutes in your morning routine before you head off to work or school to make your bed. Start with the sheets and tuck them in. Then cover your bed with your comforters and lastly fluff your pillows and sit them face sided up! Wa-la! You have now celebrated National Make Your Bed Day.

Encourage your entire family to use this day as an opportunity to start another healthy habit. Get your children involved as well! Creating these healthful habit early in life can last a lifetime.

Remember to always get a good nights rest each night!

Apartment Resident #LifeHacks was created in 2018 by Grady Management, Inc.  Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more from our website or Facebook page.

#LifeHacks: Eight Tips That Promote Healthy Sleep Routines

Get A Good Night's Sleep

Sleep hygiene may sound unimaginative, but it just may be the best way to get the sleep you need in this 24/7 age. Here are eight simple tips for making the sleep of your dreams a nightly reality:

1) Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol, Nicotine, and Other Chemicals that Interfere with Sleep

 As any coffee lover knows, caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake. So, avoid caffeine (found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola, and some pain relievers) for four to six hours before bedtime. Similarly, smokers should refrain from using tobacco products too close to bedtime.

 Although alcohol may help bring on sleep, after a few hours it acts as a stimulant, increasing the number of awakenings and generally decreasing the quality of sleep later in the night. It is therefore best to limit alcohol consumption to one to two drinks per day, or less, and to avoid drinking within three hours of bedtime.

2) Turn Your Bedroom into a Sleep-Inducing Environment

 A quiet, dark, and cool environment can help promote sound slumber. To achieve such an environment, lower the volume of outside noise with earplugs or a "white noise" appliance. Keep the temperature comfortably cool—between 60 and 75°F—and the room well ventilated. And make sure your bedroom is equipped with a comfortable mattress and pillows. (Remember that most mattresses wear out after ten years.)

 Also, if a pet regularly wakes you during the night, you may want to consider keeping it out of your bedroom.

 It may help to limit your bedroom activities to sleep. Keeping computers, TVs, and work materials out of the room will strengthen the mental association between your bedroom and sleep.

3) Establish a Soothing Pre-Sleep Routine

 Ease the transition from wake time to sleep time with a period of relaxing activities an hour or so before bed. Take a bath (the rise, then fall in body temperature promotes drowsiness), read a book, watch television, or practice relaxation exercises. Avoid stressful, stimulating activities—doing work, discussing emotional issues. Physically and psychologically stressful activities can cause the body to secrete the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with increasing alertness. If you tend to take your problems to bed, try writing them down—and then putting them aside.

4) Don’t Be a Nighttime Clock-Watcher

 Staring at a clock in your bedroom, either when you are trying to fall asleep or when you wake in the middle of the night, can actually increase stress, making it harder to fall asleep. Turn your clock’s face away from you.

And if you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep in about 20 minutes, get up and engage in a quiet, restful activity such as reading or listening to music. And keep the lights dim; bright light can stimulate your internal clock. When your eyelids are drooping and you are ready to sleep, return to bed.