How to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Do you wish you could sleep like a baby?  Do you wish you could fall asleep and STAY asleep all night?  Do you wish if you woke up to go to the bathroom, you could easily fall back to sleep?  Do your kids have a bedtime routine?  Then why shouldn’t you?

I seem to have little to no trouble falling asleep BUT these days, I have trouble staying asleep.  It seems like after 2 or 3 hours, my body wants to wake up and then I can’t get back to sleep.  I have tried many natural alternatives but most leave me feeling like a zombie in the morning.  Mornings are rough with the MS so I don’t need to complicate things with any thing that may have helped me sleep during the night.

Hubby researched this and came up with a pre-bedtime routine—a.k.a practicing good “sleep hygiene”— which they said would help me fall asleep more easily at night and stay asleep until morning. Honestly, some nights it works and some nights it doesn’t but I think it is an MS thing….. So if you have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, here are some times which might help:

#1: Stay on Schedule.

Going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day—even on weekends—is crucial for setting your body’s internal clock, which experts call your circadian rhythm. Staying consistent also means the quality of your sleep will be better.  I know this one is tough but it really does make a difference.  Most nights, I am in bed or at least headed to bed by 10:15PM.  It allows me to fall asleep easily but it doesn’t always guarantee I will stay asleep during the night.  Believe it or not, in the beginning I actually wrote it in my planner to go to bed at 10PM just do I would remember.  LOL

#2: Be Mindful of What you Eat and Drink—and When.

I grew up hearing “don’t eat before bed” but it never really made sense to me.  Then while on my weightless journey, I never ate at least 2 hours before bed because I didn’t want to gain weight.  LOL.  We all know nicotine and caffeine are stimulants and take hours to wear off, so they make it harder to fall—and stay—asleep. The key is to avoid them for 4 – 6 hours before bed.  Alcohol can initially make you feel sleepy, BUT it lowers the quality of your shut-eye.  Go easy on any liquids before you bed to prevent trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

#3: Create a Comfy Bedroom.

Is your bedroom an oasis?  Do you feel relaxed when you walk in or is it full of clutter and you get stressed?  Your room should be peaceful and conducive to sleeping by keeping it quiet, cool, and dark.  Earplugs can help if you live in a noisy area. Noisy environments interrupt your sleep and reduce its quality, even when you don’t realize that it’s happening.  Outside light can keep you awake, so try room-darkening shades. Did you know your mattress and pillow also make a big difference?  Ideally, mattresses should be replaced every five to seven years and pillows should be replaced annually. A mattress should feel comfortable, and if you sleep with a partner, make sure it’s big enough so you both have plenty of space.  I find the smallest noise wakes me up so I sleep with a fan going year round.  This blocks out the sound and the hum is soothing and helps me to fall asleep.

#4: Start an Evening Ritual.

Whether it’s curling up with a book, listening to calming music or taking a warm bath, doing the same, relaxing thing every night will signal to your body it’s time to settle down.  Do you read with a “paper” book or do you read on a kindle or electronic devise?  Believe it or not,  watching TV, looking at a laptop, tablet or smart phone screen before going to bed can trigger your brain to stay awake. The safest strategy is to just put all electronics away in the evening, or at the very least, about 30 minutes before bed. Give yourself 20 minutes before bed for the one thing that calms you down. Maybe you read a book, do a guided meditation, sketch, or have some tea. Can’t shut your brain off?  Try “brain dumping” by writing everything down before you go to bed.  This empties your mind and allows it to relax just long enough to fall asleep.

#5: Don’t Watch the Clock.

Staring at the clock when you can’t sleep can stress you out and make it even harder to snooze. Keep your bedroom clock turned away from you so you won’t be tempted to watch time tick by. If 20 minutes pass and you still can’t fall asleep, get out of bed and do something peaceful until you feel drowsy.

What is your nightly routine to help you sleep at night?  Have a tip to help you relax?  We would love to hear from you…

Have a blessed day!

Getting Organized: Bedroom

I don’t know about you but our bedroom (and even the spare room) becomes a haven for collecting “stuff”.  I mean it is usually a secluded part of the house and is unseen by guests unless of course they are overnight guests.  LOL.

I have found when our bedroom is organized it makes a HUGE impact on my life – I don’t have as much brain fog and I see to be more focused.  The bedroom is the foundation of where you begin every day, an organized bedroom helps you wake up with the mindset to conquer the day’s challenges and enable you to get each day started on the right foot.

Here are a few ways to organize (easy and cost-free):

• Give away or toss what you don’t use.
• Sort out off-season clothes for separate storage.
• Move non-bedroom items out and store them in other parts of the house.
• Make your bed daily – it’s a quick and easy way to declutter the look of your room.

Once you’ve cleaned out some of the clutter,  you will have a better idea of what you need to store what’s left.  To save money, you want to find ways to use your current storage as efficiently as possible and invest in items which will help round out your bedroom set and expand your storage space.

Next step….

Drawer organizers – socks and underwear drawers are usually the messiest, right?  I toss mine in baskets to make it easy.  How about organizing your drawers with drawer dividers or honeycomb-style organizers to keep things moving on busy mornings.  You can pick some of these up in the dollar store.

Closet systems – We have two SMALL bedroom closets.  So for mine, we added an extra rack which helps to keep my clothes organized with long items on one side of the closet shirts and tops are on also on the top rack with pants on the bottom row.

I put the things don’t use often on the top shelf in a Thirty One Your Way Cube. The clear window lets me see what is in there in case I forget!  I store off-season clothing and extra linens in Thirty One’s large utility totes with lids.

Shoe rack, shoe tree or shoe ladder – keep your shoes in their best shape and easy to find with a shoe organizer. Double the space at the bottom of your closet with a couple of shoe shelves.

Another Option is to Add Storage………

Look at your bedroom pieces and add missing items which offer extra storage including a dresser stack, nightstands, chest of drawer, storage bed, storage bench and media stand. Storage beds and headboards – bed frames can boast the bed to product under-bed storage making the most of unused space.  It is also a great place to store extra linens and off-season clothing. Headboards with built in bookshelves and compartments offer valuable space to keep books, clocks and bedside necessities handy and organized.

Swap out your night table for something bigger – night tables keep a few things handy, but they don’t help you stay organized. Choose a two drawer nightstand instead or if you need more storage space, upgrade to a small dresser.

Dresser stack – add a couple of extra storage drawers with a dresser stack, attaching to the top of a matching dresser many offer a contemporary asymmetric look.

Bedroom chest – a chest, chest of drawers, bureau or gentleman’s chest typically have a profile that is taller and more narrow than a dresser. This is great if you are tight on floor space because it increases storage space with a vertical stance.

Accessories and Extra Pieces

Look for extra pieces that might not be part typical bedroom sets to add extra storage and utility to your room. When shopping for these pieces you can choose to match similar wood tones to the furnishings you have already or choose contrasting finishes to create an accent in your room.

Bookshelves – are not just for living rooms and home offices, bookcases can help you keep things organized, utilize baskets and boxes on lower shelves to conceal clutter.  I have one in our bedroom.

Storage bench – placed at the foot of your bed (ours is off to the side), offers the perfect place to keep throw pillows and extra blankets handy while doubling as a handy spot sit when you lace up your shoes.

Hall tree – the one in our bedroom was made by my grandfather MANY years ago.  It is  place to hang tomorrow’s outfit or keep last minute wardrobe changes off of the floor.

Today’s tips are courtesy of Furniture.com.. be sure to check out their bedroom sets and other home furnishings at a store near you.  I did not receive any compensation for sharing their information in this blog post.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Closet Storage Hacks

When I was a single mom, we lived in a double wide trailer.  I had a HUGE walk in closet with lots of space.  I couldn’t imagine having anything smaller.  Was it filled with clothes? NO!  It just had lots of space to store things.

Now, in the condo my closet is a constant battle which I’m always losing. First of all, it isn’t very big.  I have two racks to hang clothes on because I honestly thought it would be better. I must admit, I am rethinking the decision.  Between clothes I wear, clothes I hold on to just in case, and storage of some other random crap, it’s like a time bomb ready to explode.  I know, not the best advertisement for someone who wants to help YOU get organized, right?  Well, this is a year of being accountable and it includes sharing the good, the bad and the ugly!  I do LOVE helping others get organized….

I’m trying to get a handle on it – of course with using some Thirty One products BUT also with some other hacks I found in the black hole of Pinterest….. Here are some of the ideas I found which could help you…

Use a soda tab to hook hangers together.
Use a wine rack to organize purses.  Being a purse girl, this may come in handy in my office or family room more so than the bedroom..

A shoe rack can hold a lot more than shoes.  You know all of those scarves or belts or maybe even your tank tops.

Keep a kitchen bin in the closet for outgrown clothes.  Put a plastic bag in it so when it is full, you can just pull it out and head to your local donation spot.

Keep shoes neat and off the floor with a ThirtyOne Large Utility Tote.
Keep flip flops and other flats neat in magazine holders. I also LOVE our large utility tote for flip flops.

Take pictures of your shoes and tape them to the boxes.

Keep laundry organized and ready to go.

Or try Thirty One’s Stand Tall Bin….

Keep hair tools and makeup brushes neat and tidy with Thirty One’s Double Duty Caddy.

What are some of your favorite closet organizing tips?  Share them with us…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

How to Organize Your House

Thank you JEN WALLACE for today’s organization tips..

Believe it or not, organizing your home isn’t rocket science. The basics of learning how to organizeyour space are actually pretty simple; the difficult parts are taking the first step and staying committed.

Living Room

• Form and Function Storage Options – Solutions like storage ottomans and coffee tables with hidden storage are ideal for the living room.
• Everything Has a Home – One of the key principles of organization is “everything has its place” and that’s never more true than in the living room–the one room that is the public face of your home.
• Have a Catchall Option – When company arrives unexpectedly it is handy to have a basket or a trunk that can be used for temporary storage of games, books, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitchen

• Banish Junk Drawers – One of the most important ways to organize your kitchen is to banish the junk drawer.
• Label – Labeling everything from food storage jars to shelves is ideal in the kitchen. There’s little doubt about where things go when there is a label.
• Must Haves Only – Pare down those kitchen multitaskers and only keep what you truly need to get dinner on the table.
• Create Stations – From a coffee and tea station to a food prep station setting your kitchen up smartly is key.

 

Bedrooms

• Under the Bed Storage – Don’t forget about adding drawers, boxes or bins under the bed for added organization spaces.
• Organize Your Closet – While it may seem like a herculean task, make sure to tackle your closet. Make the room that when you add a new item, you need to get rid of one in its place.
• Jewelry and Accessory Storage Solutions – Spend time organizing your jewelry and other accessories to they are easier to find.

Entryway

• Shoe Storage is a Must – Some kind of shoe storage is a necessity to keep your entryway from being cluttered–and so you can find your other shoe.
• Pare Down the Coat Closet – Get rid of those old coats that don’t fit anymore and donate them to charity.
• Add Lockers, Cubbies to Avoid the “Drop Zone” – To keep the entrance to your home clutter-free, add cubbies, lockers, a coat rack, hook rail or some other solution for the coats and bags that always accumulate there.

Home Office

• Control Wires – Add wire storage to keep help your office feel neater.
• Schedule Filing Time – If your desk is always at risk of triggering a paper avalanche, schedule filing time every week to keep on top of things.
• Keep Your Workstation Clear – Store aware unnecessary office accessories
• Cut Down on Paper – One way to cut down on paper records is with recordkeeping apps like Shoeboxed and Evernote.

Bathroom

• Essentials Only – If you are wondering how to organize in the bathroom one way is to rid the bathroom of everything but only the essentials.
• Add Back of Door Storage – Adding hanging rods or some other hanging storage is a trick to add more storage space to the bathroom.
• Vertical Storage – Make the most of the bathroom space by adding vertical organizational space with shelves or a countertop vertical storage unit.

What is YOUR best tip for keeping your home organized?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

A Simple Plan to Keep the House Tidy

Monday morning and you are ready to start your week, right?

The house is either a mess because the weekend was so crazy with activities that you didn’t get time to anything but a load of laundry.  OR the house is spotless because you had time to clean but you know that now that the week has started, it will quickly be a mess again.

Which one can you relate to?  I have to admit, I think I did better keeping up with the housework when I was crazy busy working full-time.  Now that I work from home, I seem to do the bare minimum.  CRAZY, right?

The best way to combat the battle of the chores is to do a little bit every day so that when the weekend (or your days off) come, you can actually enjoy them!  I love these tips:

 

Daily Bedroom Tasks

• Before making the bed each morning spritz the linens with linen spray. You’ll thank yourself as you crawl into bed that night.  Try some lavender or a scent that is relaxing which will help you sleep at night too!
• Keep a dust rag in the drawer of your bedside table and give your nightstand a quick wipe as you grab your phone from the charger.
• Keep a bag in your closet so when you try on items of clothing that just don’t work anymore, you can drop them in the bag.  When the bag is full, make a stop at your local charity shop and donate them.
• Buy and use a laundry hamper. Dirty clothing strewn across the floor makes no one happy! Carry the contents downstairs to the laundry room every other day to keep things from getting out of control.

Daily Kitchen Tasks

• Always, always clean as you go when you cook. When you’re done using a bowl, rinse it and place it in the dishwasher. We only use our dishwasher occasionally, so I wash up and place things in the dish drainer to dry.  By the time dinner is done, the prep items are dry and can be put away before I start washing dinner dishes.
• Each night after the dinner dishes are done, wipe down the countertops, wipe out the sink, and sweep the floor.
• Keep a chalkboard or notepad next to your keys with reminders of when to stock up on kitchen cleaning supplies.

Daily Bathroom Tasks

• Keep the shower clean by spraying shower cleaner each morning after you get out (assuming you’re the last to shower!).
• Put everything back in it’s place when you’ve finished getting ready for the day, and try to keep your countertops clear of makeup clutter.
• Keep a stash of countertop wipes under your bathroom sink and wipe down all surfaces after you’ve finished getting ready in the morning.

Daily Laundry Tasks

• An option: designate two days each week to take care of any laundry that needs attention. Find what works for you and stick to it. This really is the best way to avoid a mountain of laundry!
• If laundry is a constant problem in your house, try starting at least one load each morning before breakfast and set a reminder to start the dryer right when you get home from work.
• Keep a trash can in the laundry room for lint and any other debris that comes out of pockets. 
• Keep a stack of extra laundry baskets in the laundry room to easily transport clean laundry.
• During the summer months, always be sure to wipe down the seal around the washing machine and leave the door open when not in use. This will help to prevent mildew from growing.

Thank you HelloGlow for these great tips!  Share your best tip for staying on top of the household chores…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!