Bunk Beds Shopping Tips – Kids Room Decorating Ideas, Home Design Projects & Decor News

Boy it’s nice to relax in bed. Time alone to sip some tea and read a book is as precious as a drink of cold water on a hot day. There are volumes written on how to relax, why relaxing is good for our health, and where we should go to find this enlightened state.

I gather the elements of relaxation like others gather flowers for the dinner table or the perfect foods for a picnic. My lap desk is made of maple with a pattern that reminds me of water. Its 16” x 18” surface is perfect for holding the book, my arms, and a small bowl of popcorn. The 5” foam pillow attached underneath feels great against my legs and lifts my work so that I do not have to bend over. My sheets are mint green microfiber and slide over my skin like satin. My bed lamp is angled for good lighting but no sideways glare into my eyes. My blanket is Egyptian cotton and my pillows are stuffed with down. My bed is pillowtop perfection. Soft music comes from my CD player and a big bowl of popcorn is at my side. A stack of books is on the floor; two more books are in the bed with me.

I slip another smaller pillow into the arch of my low back for support. Happy in my bed, I sip my tea, lean my forearms on my lap desk, open my novel, take a deep breath and relax. This is the perfect ending for any kind of day.

This guest post was kindly contributed by:
Kathleen Hogan, physical therapist, Owner: Lap of Luxury Lap Desks

Some advices on producing more melatonin.

Not the Wild Hormone

Getting a good night’s rest involves your body producing a hormone called melatonin. Healthy production of this chemical compound in your body assures that your sleep cycle is stable. So how can you get your fix of some melatonin? Here are some tips to turn your body into a melatonin production facility:

Turn off the tv and shut down your computer.

We’ve all had those days when we dosed off while watching a movie or a late night talk show. While this may feel like a relaxing way to wind down your day, flickering lights and images can actually excite your mind, hence reducing the melatonin production. Engage your aural senses instead by listening to your favorite lullaby.

Dim the Lights

You don’t have to be in a romantic mood or situation to dim the lights. Bright lights are not only invasive to your sleep but can also plummet the precious melatonin production. Try using dimmer lights when going to bed and turn off that bright fluorescent lights.

Dark Night

Try to keep your room as dark as possible when going to bed. Use heavy curtains about the windows and if necessary, eye masks. As mentioned previously, turn off the tv and other electrical displays prior to going to sleep. Conversely, try to expose yourself to daylight as much as possible while you are awake.

Do you find yourself unable to get out of bed? Are you exhausted and sleepy throughout the day? Here are some tips for you to enjoy the heavenly slumber after you’ve tucked your kids into their bunk beds:

1. Planning Out Your Sleep

Setting and keeping to a scheduled bed time isn’t just for kids. Your body likes consistency so set a time in which you sleep. Follow the schedule even on weekends and if you do decide to shift your bed time, be sure to make the change gradually (we recommend shifts of 15 min increments).

2. World Without Alarm Clocks

Waking up on time is just as important as going to bed on time. Ideally, you shouldn’t even need an alarm clock to wake you up. Adjust your sleeping pattern according so that you can train yourself to wake up without an alarm clock at a scheduled time everyday, and again, this goes even for the weekends.

3. Power Napper

Get yourself some well earned sleep after you put your kids to sleep in their bunk beds.

If you were not able to keep to your sleeping schedule and lost few hours of sleep, all is not lost. In such cases, (though one should never make a habit of irregular sleeping pattern) it is better to take a nap during the day rather than extending your sleeping time. Make sure to keep the nap time between 15 to 30 minutes for the optimal nap experience.

4. Fight Against Drowsiness

If you find yourself dosing off after that delicious dinner, or any meal, try to get active and stay up until your scheduled bed time. If you end up giving into the sandman then you might find yourself up in the middle of the night; wash dishes, prepare for the next day, or do something that can keep you up to stay on your planned sleeping pattern.

Do you have a particular trick or a strategy to sustain your sleeping habit? We’d love to hear from you!

Make bedtime something your kids will look forward to.

Getting your kids to bed for a good night’s sleep can be just as tough as getting them to wake up on time. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to establishing a healthy sleeping pattern for your kids:

1. Make bedtime a time your kids will look forward to. This can be a time when you can show security and affection towards your kids. Establishing a routine like reading them stories or talking with them about tomorrow’s plans or whatever the kids have on their mind can be a helpful way to assure your kids of your love towards them.

2. Don’t let your kids drink milk or juice in order to get them ready for bed. Any kind of liquid aside from water can cause cavities. If you do end up letting your kids drink milk or juice, make sure they brush their teeth before going to bed.

3. Keep things consistent. Establish a specific time for waking up, for each meals, and nap time or play time as well as bed time. The routines will get your kids comfortable and will give them something that they can expect and rely on.

4. Never use bedtime as a punishment. Kids need to feel and understand that bedtime is a secure and enjoyable time. Less anxiety your children may have about sleeping, they will have a better night’s rest.

5. There has been researches indicating that the human sleep-cycle are affected by lighting. When its nearing the bedtime, try to keep your kids room’s lighting a little bit dimmer and let your kids wake up to a bright lighting setting in the morning.

Do you and your kids have a special bedtime routine? We’d be thrilled if you can share some with us!