If You Can't Sleep, Cast a Critical Eye Over Your Sleeping Spot
You know that feeling when you walk into a room … you feel really comfortable, really claustrophobic or want to turn around and run out? There really is an energy to a place and this is the idea behind the “art of placement” or Feng Shui. For centuries the Chinese have been following the art of placement when choosing a place to live, designing living spaces and especially choosing where to put your sleeping spot! There are some very basic ideas about bedroom arrangement that really has a huge effect on your sleep. This is especially true for people who are naturally anxious, worried or dealing with a stressful event.
The core principle for sleep is safety and rest. You need to have both of these in order to sleep. Here are some ideas to help starting with safety:
The head of the bed must be placed flat against a wall. Otherwise you need to have something between the wall and the bed that is taller than the head of the bed and fills that space.
The foot of the bed should not face the doorway that enters the room. This reminds us of the Victorian idea of “feet first” out of the door in death. If you cannot place the bed in any other direction, then put a bench or dresser across the end of the bed.
The head of the bed should not be on a wall near a door, entrance or window. This harkens back to the idea of someone breaking in during the night. You want to be literally across the room from any possible unexpected entrance.
Do not have anything hanging from the ceiling over the bed, like a chandelier. Again, it’s about the subconscious idea of “danger” that during your conscious time, you might not consider an issue, but during sleep when you are most vulnerable, it can cause anxiety at a deep level in the mind.
Rest is something many people are lacking when they wake up from their night of sleep. Sleep should be restorative, not restless, nor exhausting. This is a key aspect of health because if you are unable to rest during the night it will affect the healing ability of all of your body systems. So poor sleep can drive illness, not just fatigue. The most basic principle here is the idea that the bedroom is not for activity, it is for sleep (well, most of the time anyway), so asking yourself that about your nighttime habits can be very enlightening about your sleep issues.
Take a look at the photo here. How does this bedroom make you feel? Would you feel rested in this bedroom when you wake up? Can you envision clearing off the bed to be able to sleep? What would you be thinking when you try to go to sleep? Would you be thinking that you need to clean your bedroom tomorrow? So think about your bedroom. Do you have piles of laundry or paperwork or storage boxes, etc. in your bedroom? This is one of the most common reasons for insomnia because not only does it trap energy, it exudes a feeling of being overwhelmed and “never getting everything done” which is just enough to keep your mind whirring when you are trying to go to sleep.
Now notice in this photo that the head of the bed is next to a window and that you can see into the bathroom and see another window there. Having two points of possible entry can create worry. Think about trying to go to sleep next to the one window while also considering that someone could come in the bathroom window and be unseen so close to the bedroom? Again, in our conscious world, these might not be important, but during the subconscious vulnerable sleep time, these can be enough to prevent you from reaching deep restorative sleep. Here are some other things to consider:
Do not place anything under the bed. This traps energy and can block the restorative effect of the earth during the night.
Do not have electrical devices in the bedroom. Avoid bringing IPads, computers, phones or other screened devices to bed with you. This especially applies to electrical devices on or in the bed, such as electric blankets. Never charge a device while you are using it as well!
Make sure the bedroom is dark enough to stimulate your melatonin activity and therefore deep sleep.
Do not permit things in the bedroom that will disturb your sleep, such as pets, chiming clocks or snoring partners. Even if you are able to sleep through things, it doesn’t mean it will be deep and restorative. Returning again to our photo, imagine two animals chasing each other and knocking over piles of things during the night.
The last thing to consider is the bed itself. You should turn your mattress once every couple of months and change your mattress every 15-20 years or whenever it starts to look uneven. Pillows should be changed even more frequently. Take a look when you are changing the sheets and pillowcases. Notice if there are places in the bed that feel lumpy or uneven to you when you lie down. And speaking of sheets, please be sure to change your sheets frequently, particularly if you are an allergy-sufferer. Sheets, blankets and pillows can trap animal fur, pollen, allergens, food crumbs and even illness if we are coughing up a lung while we are trying to get over a cold.
Another important thing to consider about beds are the energy of the bed. Don’t keep a bed that you have shared in another relationship. The energy and memory of this really does infuse your sleep and the sleep of your partner, so create new, wonderful memories without the burden of the past. This is also something to consider when buying used furniture or accepting a used mattress.
Your bed should surround you with protection and comfort, but not swallow you up. Don’t use heavy blankets unless that provides you with reassurance and warmth that you enjoy. Don’t load your bed up with 20 pillows, extra blankets, a rolled up duvet and a bedspread. Keep your sleeping surface comfortable and reassuring, but don’t make it a project every time you get into bed or get up in the morning.
So take a look at your bedroom with a critical eye. Your ability to sleep soundly and wake rested deserves to be a priority.