July Heatwave: 5 Best Ways to Bring the Outdoors Indoors
As the nation bakes in a sweltering heatwave, we are enjoying parks, gardens and swimming pools. And we all know that when the weather is like this, it can be hard to drag yourself from the great outdoors into bed.
Sleep is a huge contributing factor to living a healthy, happy life. Making sure your sleep environment is beneficial to your own sleep preferences is essential, but adding an element of nature to your bedroom is a great way to incorporate a sense of relaxation, and help the mind switch off every night.
Whether you add a selection of plants to the bedroom, or simply making sure you are getting outside for at least fifteen minutes a day, nature holds the key to a great sleeping pattern.
1. Sounds
Sounds are known for their thought-provoking properties. As well as helping to boost mood, certain sounds can also help with evoking a sense of calmness, especially before bedtime. A few of the most common sounds that encourage relaxation are rainfall and running water, due to the calming contrasting tones, crackling fire, as it evokes a sense of cosiness, and also Birdsong. Birdsong is known for being stochastic, meaning it is made up of lots of random sounds. The lack of pattern or rhythm within the noise helps the brain to switch off, as the lack of consistency within the sound encourages the brain to relax. Find a sound that suits you, everyone is different.
2. Smells
Many scents are renowned for their calming properties. Lavender helps to promote stress-relief and relieves anxiety, making it the perfect scent for bedtime. Whereas Pine is often celebrated for its terpene, which is shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, which also helps to neutralise the senses after a busy day. Likewise with sounds, find a scent that suits you.
3. Light
Opening your blinds in the morning may sometimes be a difficult task, but it is proven to reduce tiredness for the rest of the day. This is because access to morning light stops your body producing the sleep hormone, melatonin, meaning you will feel more alert and ready for the day. Even better, get outside for a morning walk whilst the mornings are brighter. Investing in blackout blinds or curtains can also improve the quality of sleep and prevent light disturbance.
4. Plants
Keeping plants in the bedroom can be hugely beneficial for both mental and physical health.
Recommended is the Snake Plant and the Kentia Plant, as they conveniently store oxygen away throughout the day and release it during the night – purifying the air as you sleep and therefore improving the quality of sleep.
The Philodendron Scandens is also a great choice if your bedroom gets a variety of natural light throughout the day – the Philodendron Scandens prefers humid environments but requires a light watering every few days.
5. Being in Nature
Whilst bringing nature into your home is an easy way to ensure a better night’s sleep, nothing beats getting out into the great outdoors. Being outside and around nature has shown to have significant positive effects on mental and physical wellbeing. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can reduce stress and anxiety, therefore improving overall mood, helping us to fall asleep easier.