Tip of the week: How to create a sleep-friendly room

Prepare the space nightly. When the lights go out each night, your bedroom should be “as dark as possible” and no warmer than 70 degrees. But it’s also important to close open drawers and remove clutter because the sight of a mess can cause your mind to drift toward unfinished tasks.

Banish the cellphone. If you leave a phone within reach, “it’s too tempting to pick it up and scan email, Facebook, or the latest headlines, all of which are stimulating and potentially stress-inducing.” Always dock and charge it in another room.

Get pets off the bed. The typical pet owner is frequently awakened by a restless “furry friend.” Do yourself a favor: Shut the cat or dog out of the room if you can bear the guilt, or at least create a bed or sleeping area for your companion “next to—but not on—the bed.”

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Source: Woman’s Day