Founder of iKOU, Naomi Whitfield shares her tips for creating a wellbeing-boosting sleep sanctuary, including how to do a digital detox.
Did you know you spend an average of one-third of your life in your bedroom? As the healing heart of your home, your bedroom should be a sanctuary to which you retreat for calm and rest at the end of the day.
While you may think you have created the perfect bedroom for your aesthetic needs, have you ever thought about optimising your space to boost your wellbeing and quality of sleep? Many of the items we have in our bedrooms can actually sabotage sleep, so if you’re craving a great night’s sleep follow my tips for a bedroom “detox”.
Digital detox
Eliminating electronic devices from your bedroom can be game-changing. The combination of blue light, stimulation of the mind and distraction from listening to your body’s sleep signals can be incredibly disruptive to your quality of rest.
Detoxing your room from your phone also means that when you wake up in the morning, you are not tempted to check your phone first thing, so you start your day by connecting with yourself.
Breath work
Are you using a traditional oil burner next to your bed? Did you know that almost all tealight candles are made from paraffin wax, a by-product of kerosene and
a petrochemical? Make the switch to an ultrasonic diffuser instead. It’s safe to use in the bedroom because it uses cold-steam technology to distill pure essential oils into the air, and it even has negative-ion and air-purifying benefits to take sleep quality to the next level.
Out with the old
Old mattresses can be a hidden haven for dust mites and allergens. It is recommended to replace your mattress every 7-10 years, so if yours is much older, consider replacing it with a natural latex mattress to detox the surface you sleep on.
A skin thing
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and made up of tiny pores that absorb the chemicals it comes into contact with, allowing them to enter your bloodstream. Take a proper look at the ingredients lists of the skincare products you apply to your skin before you sleep and make the switch to natural and organic.
The chemicals used in your bedding can also impact your health. Where possible, choose organic and natural fabrics to sleep in, preferably undyed or dyed with natural colourants. The quality of the linens you choose can make a big difference to your health and sleep quality. I love the crisp, clean feeling of pure white, organic cotton or the softness of linen.
Healthy boundaries
Create a mental boundary to protect your bedroom from negative thoughts. Our days can be so full that we often use the night to mull over problems that rob us of peaceful, easy sleep.
Make a conscious intention to detox your bedroom of worries by doing a “brain dump” before you go to bed. Write everything down that is on your to-do list for the next day and make a commitment to yourself to leave problems at the door when you enter your bedroom for sleep.
If you wake in the night, remind yourself that worry is often the stories we play out in our mind that may never even happen, and that the best gift we can give ourselves is a great night’s sleep so we can see things clearly in the morning. Sleep is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your wellbeing.
Naomi Whitfeld is the founder of iKOU and author of the book Energise your life. As an intuitive aromatherapist, Naomi believes in treating the mind and body as a “whole”.
Winner of the Telstra Business Women’s Award for “Entrepreneur of the Year” and “Wellness Warrior of the Year” in the Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Awards, Naomi has a particular interest in supporting busy women and helping them foster self-care rituals.
Shop all iKOU sleep products at iKOU.com.au
Article Featured in WILD 14
