A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

Home Ideas Ben Soreff Home Ideas Ben Soreff

10 Reasons Why Your Bedroom Is Hindering Your Sleep

Sleep is such an essential part of our lives. Without restful sleep, we struggle at work and with household chores and responsibilities. Is your bedroom contributing to a lack of quality sleep?

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Sleep is such an essential part of our lives. Without restful sleep, we struggle at work and with household chores and responsibilities. Is your bedroom contributing to a lack of quality sleep? 

Here are 10 reasons your bedroom could be hindering your sleep.

1. Your Room is Too Hot

Our bodies naturally drop core temperature when we are preparing for sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, the optimal temperature for your bedroom for the best sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, evidence shows that light air movement is better for sound sleep, so a fan running on low could help you sleep more soundly. 

2. Too Much Light

Harsh lights from the television and your electronics can cause your brain chemicals to keep you awake. Powering down electronics and other blue light-emitting devices an hour or two before bed will help your body fade into sleep faster and with fewer disruptions. Adding a heavy curtain to your windows will help block or diffuse the brightness from street lights, headlights, the bright moon, and other light sources while you’re trying to sleep. 

3. Noisy Surroundings

Whether you’ve got rowdy neighbors, a loud street near your home, or you live under a flight path, sound can keep you awake at night. Investing in noise-canceling headphones or a white noise machine can help you sleep deeper and with fewer middle-of-the-night interruptions. Another option is to add peaceful music or guided meditation to your routine; they can help you fall asleep faster. 

4. Declutter Your Space

When the space around your bed is cluttered and messy, it can contribute to anxiety and make it harder to sleep restfully. When you wake up for the bathroom, you shouldn’t have to worry about tripping over yesterday’s laundry or tomorrow’s cleaning task. 

Tidying your space before you doze off can increase your sleep quality. Further, having a cleaner space can help your morning routine run more smoothly, meaning you can sleep longer. 

5. Use Your Bedroom Only for Sleep

We understand that this one isn’t always possible because of our busy lives and the cost of living. In some cases, our bedrooms may have to work double duty as an office or play space. However, if you keep your bed reserved for sleep and other private activities, your brain will associate the area with rest. 

Keep homework, creative projects, and work at a desk or table instead of lounging in your bed when possible. Keeping a book or other non-electronic activities on or near your mattress won’t disrupt your sleep, especially if it’s part of your bedtime routine. 

6. Your Mattress is Due for an Upgrade

Have you been waking up with aches and pains you can’t explain? Are there stains or tears you can’t identify? Do you struggle with itchy eyes and a dry throat regularly? It’s probably time for an upgrade to your mattress. 

Mattresses are intended to be replaced every seven to eight years, sooner with heavy use or multiple moves. The structure and support systems break down and lead to discomfort, pain, and other sleep deprivation symptoms. 

7. Sweaty Bedding

There are specific bedding options that help your body sweat less. Materials like cotton, silk, bamboo, and linen will wick moisture away from your body and help you stay cool. For extra chilly nights, adding a comforter can help you sleep better. You can try a weighted blanket or quilt for those looking for the weight of a heavy comforter without warmth. 

Avoid synthetics like polyester and satin. These will trap moisture and cause you to overheat more quickly. Additionally, whatever bedding you choose should be washed regularly to avoid allergens. 

8. Support Your Head and Neck

If your pillow isn’t providing adequate support for your head and neck, you won’t achieve restful sleep. Pillows should be replaced more often than mattresses partially because they break down faster and because they get damaged and dirty more quickly. We sweat, drool, and sniffle all over our pillows. Even if you use a pillowcase (and you should be using one), you’re still shedding dead skin and other substances on your pillows nightly. 

Down alternative and polyfill pillows should be replaced every 2-3 years. Buckwheat, memory foam, down, bamboo, and other higher quality pillows can go further between upgrades with proper care.  Your pillow should support your head and neck, alleviating the strain on your shoulders and keeping your spine in alignment. 

9. Add Serenity

Color psychology posits the theory that certain colors can bring serenity and calmness to your mind, while others can make you anxious, hungry, upset, and other emotional responses. Painting your room a calming color like blue or grey can help your brain associate the space with serenity and rest. 

If you lack the time right now to paint, or live in a home that you can’t make permanent changes, try adding serene and restful pictures or paintings to help your mind relax when you settle into bed. Burning a candle or diffusing an essential oil that brings peace and restfulness in the hour before bed can also help bring much needed serenity to your bedroom. 

10. Start Fresh - Make Your Bed

This step may seem counter-intuitive. Why should we make our bed when we’re going to mess it up anyway? Good Housekeeping participated in a National Sleep Foundation poll that found that people who made their bed in the morning saw a significant improvement in their sleep at night. Making your bed is a good habit, keeps your bedding crisp and clean longer, and can help your bed stay cooler. It also keeps your room looking decluttered and adds to the cleanliness of your space. 

Better Sleep Creates Better Health

When our sleep is hindered, so is our health. Our bodies depend on restful sleep to heal and become stronger. When we are sleep deprived, we can experience reduced productivity and quality of life at work. The likelihood of workplace injury is increased by as much as 37% for those who are regularly sleep deprived. 

Setting up your room to boost your ability to get quality sleep on a regular basis will help you now, and improve your life in the long run. Sleep deprivation has been linked to higher instances of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and more ailments that can cut a life short. Live a longer more satisfying life with better sleep. 

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Home Ideas Ben Soreff Home Ideas Ben Soreff

Best Home Upgrades you can make for your health

Many people would have considered updating various areas of their homes but have you taken into consideration the health benefits of these home renovations? Although some of them might be expensive, these home improvements can provide future savings and a better quality of life. However, before you tear down the walls, decide which projects are worth the trouble to improve your health. Although you can probably take on the minor improvements that do not cost much, some large-scale innovations require you to explore financing alternatives. Here are some affordable alternatives.

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Many people would have considered updating various areas of their homes but have you taken into consideration the health benefits of these home renovations? Although some of them might be expensive, these home improvements can provide future savings and a better quality of life. However, before you tear down the walls, decide which projects are worth the trouble to improve your health. Although you can probably take on the minor improvements that do not cost much, some large-scale innovations require you to explore financing alternatives. Here are some affordable alternatives.

1. Addition of a home gym

It is pretty easy to neglect exercise especially if you do not have the time to visit the gym. But if you are keen on maintaining your fitness you can think about investing in a home gym. It may turn out to be a smart investment. By having a home fitness center, you may avoid having to pay for the gym membership, skip the commute, and exercise from the privacy of your home. Although adding a home gym may be expensive, you can save money by getting the requisite fitness equipment from trusted providers that will offer different finance solutions that can be paid back over time. You can select some multi-purpose gym items and add them to the facility later when you have funds.

2. Getting a water filter

Having safe and clean water is essential for all households. You need water to clean, cook, shower, and do laundry. But remember, all the water available is not the same. Unfiltered tap water can contain contaminants such as chlorine, lead, nitrates, arsenic, and PFOS that are harmful to your health over long periods. Luckily you can use Aqua Systems water filters for filtering the water. It allows you to drink healthier water more often. These filters decrease the contaminants found in the water. You can get cleaner and safer water in all faucets by using these filters.

3. Sauna installation

When you are looking to add luxury to your home and also boost your health at the same time, consider installing an indoor sauna. Saunas are useful for clearing your body from toxins, improving metabolism, and blood circulation. Apart from all this, you can get better mental health by decreasing anxiety and stress levels. Although most homeowners prefer to have the sauna in the bathroom, garage, or master bedroom, you may install it in any place where you have sufficient space. However, you will have to take into consideration structural conditions such as ventilation, plumbing, and electricity.

4. Add natural lighting

There are several benefits associated with natural lightings such as better productivity, improved moods, higher vitamin D levels, and sounder sleep. In case the house doesn’t have sufficient natural lighting, you can replace or add windows that will allow more sunlight within the living area. If your windows already allow sufficient sunlight, you can repaint the walls by using lighter colors to brighten up the atmosphere. Installation and replacement of windows can cost around $1000 each but the advantages outweigh the expenses. You can also add large windows or skylights to maximize natural lighting.

5. Update plumbing

You may have already understood the significance of clean drinking water every day. Plumbing is essential to ensure this. Blocked, leaking or clogged piping can increase the health hazards promoting the growth of mold, mildew, and even contamination. In case you notice an unusual odor or water discoloration ensure that you test the drinking water and invest in getting the plumbing maintenance done. Upgradation of plumbing fixtures and installation of a new water filtration system can make sure that you have access to clean drinking water. Apart from this, conditioned water will promote hair growth and better skin, so there is every reason to fix your plumbing issues.

6. Digital Thermostat

The best way to beat the summer heat is by controlling your thermostat. When you and your family are at work, school, or just busy during that time, keeping the temperature consistent it's important for the comfort of the house. Some of the other digital thermostat benefits include saving money, controlling the house temperature remotely which makes it convenient, and also increasing the energy efficiency of your home!

Conclusion

Even the simplest of home improvements can make a massive impact on your well-being and health. Keep in mind the list above before you upgrade your house for creating healthier living spaces for upcoming years. When you are ready to take the next steps for achieving your fitness objectives, there is plenty of help available online. It is significant that as you are investing in your health there is no need to feel too guilty about spending too much on home improvement.

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Home Ideas Ben Soreff Home Ideas Ben Soreff

3 Ways to Organize Your Home For Optimal All-Around Health

Year after year, many of us pledge to have a healthier year. Whether it’s for weight loss, better habits, or overall wellness, more often than not it feels like by the second or third month we fall off the wagon. While we may not always notice it, a lot of the time we put ourselves in a position destined for failure. Maybe we continuously keep sugary sweets in our pantry or focus more on a comfy place to lay down as opposed to a space for working out. In order to keep up our resolutions of healthy living, we need to optimize the environment around us for success. There are many modifications that we can do to our homes whether it's a house, a condo, or an apartment that can help us achieve our health goals.

Year after year, many of us pledge to have a healthier year. Whether it’s for weight loss, better habits, or overall wellness, more often than not it feels like by the second or third month we fall off the wagon. While we may not always notice it, a lot of the time we put ourselves in a position destined for failure. Maybe we continuously keep sugary sweets in our pantry or focus more on a comfy place to lay down as opposed to a space for working out. In order to keep up our resolutions of healthy living, we need to optimize the environment around us for success. There are many modifications that we can do to our homes whether it's a house, a condo, or an apartment that can help us achieve our health goals.

Workout Space

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a gym membership or a fully stocked home gym in order to get a good workout. Organizing just a small section of your living room, bedroom, or home office with some simple pieces of equipment like a yoga mat, a couple weights, and a jump rope is all you need. If you feel like you want a little more, there are easily installable pull-up bars that can hang over the door frame. There are plenty of at-home workouts available on YouTube, Google, or even in an app on your phone. Some of which are even equipment-free! Using bodyweight to train has been shown to provide just as good of a workout as using weights. Making working out accessible and easy is the first step to integrating it into our lifestyle. If getting a workout becomes difficult to access and hard to complete, chances are we won’t even start in the first place. Additionally, choose a workout that matches your fitness level. While it’s good to push yourself, if you start with something too intense, you may feel defeated and not want to continue on.

Make Healthy Eating Easier

The kitchen can be a place where all dreams of healthy living can go to die. For many of us, eating well is the hardest part. Especially when life becomes chaotic and time seems in short supply, hitting up fast food joints or reaching for overly processed frozen meals can feel like the only option. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Organizing the kitchen to encourage healthy eating is not as daunting as it may seem. The first step is looking in the fridge. Oftentimes we reach for pre-made foods because of their convenience. But pre-made foods don’t always have to be the only convenient option. By pre-washing and cutting all your fruits and vegetables at the beginning of the week, you can make yourself pre-made healthy, unprocessed snacks that are not only better for you, but often less expensive. If you’re anything like me, the second spot to tackle is the pantry. If you’re really trying to cut back on the sugary and fatty snacks, one option would be to not buy them at all. But if you still want the option to treat yourself, try organizing your healthier snacks like nuts and crackers at eye level, and put the rest of the treats up high and out of your immediate eye-line.

Mindfulness Corner

Mental health is just as important, if not more important, than your physical health. Often when we think of living a healthier lifestyle we only really focus on eating well and working out. But having a healthy and happy mind can help elevate our quality of life more than anything else. Clearing out a corner of your home to put together a meditation space is an excellent way to incorporate mindfulness habits into your life. If meditation isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other mindfulness activities that you can do in this special space. You can opt for reading, journaling, listening to music, visualization, or even painting. There are a few easy tricks to make this space different from the rest of your home. Opt for soothing colors, like whites, greys, creams, and even blues to evoke a feeling of relaxation. Try to make it comfortable and inviting, this is a space that you want to be in. If it’s uncomfortable or not relaxing, you won’t want to spend time there. Some people emphasize the importance of scents to promote a feeling of tranquility. Lavender, sage, juniper berry, and yuzu are all essential oil scents that have been recognized for their ability to relax the mind.

Bottom Line

The beauty of home organization is that you can customize it to facilitate any type of lifestyle that you want. Healthy habits can be difficult to instill, especially if we have spent a lot of our lives putting healthy living on the back burner. But by optimizing our surrounding environment to promote wellness both physically and mentally, our goals can be more easily achieved. These are just a few tips to get you started on a healthier lifestyle. There are plenty of other options and modifications that you can choose to personalize your space to your specific lifestyle.

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Home Maintenance Ben Soreff Home Maintenance Ben Soreff

The Dangers of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Home

Volatile organic compounds are useful but dangerous chemicals that exist on store shelves and in our walls and floors—you must seek to avoid releasing them.

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The “better living through chemistry” that the 20th century promised us has not always been the truth. Take, for instance, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. These are chemicals that easily shift from solid or liquid to vapor. The term “organic” may lead you to believe that VOCs occur naturally, but this really refers to their chemical makeup involving hydrogen and carbon. Most are actually created in laboratories. Some VOCs that you may recognize are known carcinogens such as benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene.

Look around your home—you won’t see the VOCs themselves, but you’ll see plenty of things that contain them. Wood flooring, whether natural or artificial, surely contains VOCs. So too does the upholstery of your furniture and the paint on the walls. The dangers of volatile organic compounds in the home are numerous, and VOCs can affect your body in many ways. Here are some of the concerns you should have and the cautions you should take to prevent their release as best you can.

Breathing Problems

Home products that have been treated with VOCs are designed to be safe at room temperature and low humidity. When those conditions shift, the volatility of volatile organic compounds comes into play. High heat and humidity cause a process called off-gassing, in which products release these VOCs into the air. These compounds commonly cause breathing problems by irritating nose, throat, and lung tissue. Keep your home at manageable heat and humidity levels to avoid releasing and inhaling these chemicals.

Headaches and Nausea

What may seem like a bad migraine or sinus headache may actually be acute exposure to VOCs. Inhalation of volatile organic compounds in spray paints, cleaning solvents, and wood treatments can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. When you’re working with these chemicals, be sure to optimize your ventilation if you cannot work outdoors. The VOCs these products emit can exist in high concentrations.

Eye Irritation

Exposure to VOCs, whether from use of products containing them or household off-gassing, can irritate the eyes, causing dry, red, and itchy eyes. Consider using eye protection if you’re working with solvents and you notice irritation from the fumes. If you can’t identify a source of eye irritation, off-gassing may be the culprit, requiring you to take a serious look at your HVAC system’s ability to mitigate heat and humidity.

Nervous System Damage

Most alarming and severe among the dangers of volatile organic compounds in the home is the neurotoxicity many of these chemicals exhibit. Long-term exposure to VOCs may cause damage to the central nervous system, including recognizable brain damage such as dementia. Avoid long-term use of products containing VOCs in unventilated areas—the serious and irreversible damage is not worth the enjoyment of any hobby.

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