Please remember that every person living with environmental sensitives has their own journey. There are many paths up the same mountain. Please take what resonates with you, listen to your own body, and please don’t do anything that doesn’t feel right for you in the present moment.
Why is Getting Really Good Sleep Important?
Your body heals and detoxifies itself while you’re sleeping, so sleep is one of the most important things you can do to support your health! It also contributes to a healthy weight, positive mood, and ability to cope with stress better.
Ways You Can Get a Really Good Sleep
There are a number of ways that you can help yourself get a really good nights sleep. Consider trying the the following ideas to see if you can improve your sleep.
- Locate your bedroom as far away from things that trigger your sensitivities as possible
- Keep your room cool and dark
- Consider wearing an eye mask and ear plugs if you are sensitive to light and noise
- Plan to get at least 8-9 hours of sleep per night
- Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning (e.g., aim to go to bed at 10pm and wake up at 6 or 7am)
- Aim to get direct sunlight on your face shortly after you wake up, if possible, to reset your circadian rhythm
- Use your bedroom only for sleep, sex, and relaxation
- Keep your room clean, tidy, and free of dust and clutter
- Use comfortable, natural fibres for bed linens and sleepwear
- Get yourself to bed before you’re exhausted
- Develop a relaxing bedtime routine (e.g., warm shower or bath, washing face, brushing and flossing teeth, reading or meditating)
- Leave your bedroom door open over night to ensure that carbon dioxide does not build up over night
- Keep your bedroom door closed during the day to limit odours from entering your room
- If you have WIFI, turn off the WIFI while you’re sleeping
- If you use a cell phone, turn it off or on airplane mode with bluetooth off while you’re sleeping
- If it’s available to you, you may consider turning off the electricity to your bedroom and surrounding areas
Things to Avoid/Limit
- Avoid screens at least 1 hour before bed
- Avoid drinking liquids at least 2 hours before bed
- Avoid eating food at least 3 hours before bed
- Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine
- Avoid having any TVs or phones in the bedroom
- Avoid anything stressful after dinner – keep things light and relaxing!