August 25, 2012

Five Tips to Get a Better Night's Sleep

Mark Thompson READ TIME: 3 MIN.

PEARL RIVER, N.Y. - As we all know, sleep is vital to a person's well-being; it affects everything from our mood and health to our communication and social interaction skills.

However, contrary to what many people think, research has shown it is not just the number of hours in bed that is important, but also, the quality of those hours spent asleep.

In order to wake up feeling energized and refreshed, getting deep, restorative sleep is crucial. Unfortunately, many factors in our everyday lives can prevent this.

To help ensure your night's sleep is all it should be, try these tips from Sally Morse, Director of Creative Services for window fashions leader Hunter Douglas, a company that provides many light- and noise-blocking solutions to enhance your quality of sleep:

? Bedtime Schedule: Going to bed at a consistent time every night will help your body establish a regular sleep pattern. Your body's sleep-wake cycle is one of the most important strategies for achieving a good night's' sleep. Keep up this routine and you'll find yourself waking up naturally without an alarm clock.

  • The Bed: The bed you sleep on should enhance the comfort and quality of the sleep you get. If you wake up with a sore back or aching neck, chances are you may need to invest in a new mattress or try a different pillow. Also, remember that if you work on your bed a lot, it may be harder to switch into sleep mode at night.

  • Light: If your goal is quality sleep, then the best window fashions are those that dim the exterior light so that you are not woken up or disturbed by it. Products such as Hunter Douglas' Duette� Architella� opaque honeycomb shades feature a design that significantly reduces heat transfer at the window and serves as an excellent light-dimming tool. The darker a room is, the better you'll sleep.

  • Eating and Drinking Habits: Your daytime and pre-bedtime eating habits play a significant role in how well you sleep. Big meals at night take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and may keep you up. On the other hand, if dinnertime is early, a light snack can promote sleep. Many people underestimate the effects caffeine can have on your sleeping schedule; it can cause sleep problems up to 10 hours after drinking it. Consider eliminating caffeinated drinks from your diet post-lunch time.

    ? Noise: Noise is one of the most disruptive factors that can affect the quality of sleep you're getting. Whether you live in the city or the suburbs, noise has a way of infiltrating our private spaces. Thanks to innovators at Hunter Douglas, there is a way to bring peace and quiet back into your home. The company's products are all tested and score high ratings for sound absorption, so you can rest peacefully. Rated among the highest for sound absorption of any Hunter Douglas window dressing, Vignette� Tiered� Architella� Modern Roman Shades have rear fabric air pockets that trap air and help absorb sound energy.

    By following these simple tips, a good night's sleep can't be far behind.

    Hunter Douglas, Inc., headquartered in Pearl River, N.Y, is the leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window fashions in North America and a major manufacturer of architectural products. The company is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.

    For more information, call 1-800-274-2985 or visit: www.hunterdouglas.com

    Visit the Hunter Douglas Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HunterDouglas?sk=app_190009131096348.

    Download "The Art of Window Dressing" iPad app at the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hunter-douglas-the-art-window/id497716331?mt=8 as well as through a link on www.hunterdouglas.com

    by Mark Thompson , EDGE Style & Travel Editor

    A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.

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