Know Your Personal Sleep Boundaries

Me, myself and I. That’s pretty much the philosophy for a lifetime of perfect sleep. It might seem selfish, but it’s not. A contained sense of your own, all-important sleep is what makes you a better functioning person. Sleep happy, keep happy. 

Getting yourself ready for bedtime is a conscious, purposeful activity. It is quite possible you have never thought about your sleep in this way. Most people just sleep when they’re tired. But if you’re more interested in deep, recuperative rest every night – the type of sleep we all need – then you’ll give more thought to it. Eventually, your winding down routine will become a behavioural habit.

Know when to cut off from that extra bit of work in the evenings. Set your devices to go into sleep mode at a regular time each evening. Have your last meal at least two hours before retiring. If you like to relax with a pre-dinner tipple, or enjoy a glass of vino with your meal, go easy. Cut out caffeine after sundown. And ensure you’re well hydrated after your long day, especially if you have an evening exercise routine.

If you have toddlers, you’re pretty much on call. Not much you can do about that. But as your kids grow to become more secure and independent at night time, let them understand that barging into each other’s bedrooms, whether their parents’ or siblings’ rooms, is just not respectful of personal boundaries – especially when it comes to sleep.

If the family has pets, be resolved from day one how pets are bedded down at night. Cats will decide for themselves. But dogs can learn a perfectly secure routine of knowing where and when to sleep for the night. Kids may invariably want their favourite furry to sleep with them in bed. Pets can be a soothing and comforting presence. They can also be disruptive. Take an open yet disciplined approach to putting your family’s sleep quality first.

How you manage your day can determine your quality of sleep by night. Sleep hygiene is a conscious approach to daily routines and habits that afford you better rest at night. Again, it’s not something we are programmed to consider. But we can train ourselves into being more intuitive about finding balance in our diet, exercise and work schedules. And the better you sleep each night, the better every next day is. Instead of coping, you’ll find yourself actively managing your day.

There’s no need to be obsessive about it. Just be mindful. Consider the amount of tea and coffee you reach for each day. Perhaps have a refillable bottle of water at hand instead. By all means enjoy the odd snack. Just watch the sugar content. Ensure you have a decent midday lunch of sorts. Afford yourself the energy you need to get through the afternoon without a sudden afternoon binge to get to the finish line.

If you’re married or live with a partner, your bedroom is a sanctuary of rest and intimacy. It needs to be mutually respected. Of course, there are scenarios where you need to accommodate one another:

1. You have different circadian rhythms or “body clocks”. One of you sleeps earlier. The other sleeps later. That’s perfectly okay. You do not have to go to bed together every night. Neither of you is being inconsiderate.
2. Tough day? A bit of a “domestic” going down? Leave it outside the bedroom door. You can seek solace in your sleep if something is unresolved. But do not take the argument to bed with you. Respect one another’s personal bedroom space. And a decent night’s sleep is likely just what you both need to wake up less agitated in the morning.
3. Be mindful of a shared space. There’s no need to be rigorous about it. Just be as considerate as you would be towards yourself. It’s a unspoken rule that you keep the bedroom space calm and welcoming.

Personal sleep hygiene aside, your sleep quality really is as good as the quality of mattress you’re lying on. Like a circadian rhythm, each of us is particular about our comfort and support preferences. And that includes parents and partners! A Dial•a•Bed  sleep consultant has seen it all before. You would not be the first, nor the last, to need a sleep solution that suited two people with different mattress preferences.

Dial•a•Bed is possibly as personal as it comes when looking for your next best bed or mattress. There’s good reason why Dial•a•Bed is South Africa’s largest branded bed store. All the latest mattress design and engineering – across both spring and foam technologies – ensures you have every personal sleep preference just waiting for you to lie down on and feel the difference. You can learn more about the long-trusted Dial•a•Bed range at www.dialabed.co.za. To truly know yourself is to sleep your best. You’ll know it when you feel it.