Sleep Wellness

The Ideal Bedroom

Your bedroom should be quiet and relaxing. Intrusive noise or light, an uncomfortable or worn-out mattress and foundation, or a room that's too warm or too cool can prevent you from getting the sleep you need. You deserve a good night's sleep.

Is your bedroom conducive to a good night's sleep? These four factors can help turn your anxiety closet into a peaceful sleep sanctuary:

• Mattress and foundation. Be sure your mattress and foundation meet your needs for both comfort and support. If you sleep with a partner, your mattress also should allow you both enough space to move easily.
• Light. One of the body's most powerful time cues is natural light. The rising sun can wake up the brain long before the alarm clock rings. A dark room is the most conducive for sleep, day or night.
• Noise. Sudden, loud noises, either from outside or inside the home, can disrupt sleep. However, steady, low-volume sounds such as the whir of a fan or air conditioner actually can be soothing because they generate "white noise" that helps block out sleep-disrupting noises.
• Temperature. The ideal bedroom temperature is 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 18 degrees Celsius). A room that's too warm or too cool can disrupt comfortable sleep.