Turn Your Bedroom Into a Sleep Sanctuary

Clocking a full seven-to-nine hours is highly beneficial to mental and physical health. Without it, there can be seriously harmful effects such as an increased risk for diabetes, faster rates of aging, and a less sharp memory. According to a recent poll, roughly 40% of Americans receive less than seven hours of sleep per night. Though the causes for these alarmingly high rates are widespread and vary on an individual level, there are universal strategies that everyone can use to win back their much-deserved rest. The first steps to this start in regulating the environment we sleep in: the bedroom. Read below to learn more.

Control Light with Window Treatments There’s nothing worse than having your sleep interrupted by morning sunlight. Prevent this from happening by investing in a set of window treatments that completely block out the sun. There are numerous types of window treatments; each kind is differentiated by fabric, aesthetic, and ability to block out light. The most popular types include blinds, curtains drapes, and shades - all of which come in varying fabrics, colors, and styles.

Reduce Technology Use Studies have shown that nestling up in bed with our favorite technology is actually a detriment to our quality of sleep. If possible, keep your laptop at a desk and try to use it no sooner than an hour before bed. Likewise, use phones sparingly before bed and find a charging spot in the room that isn’t bedside so that you aren’t tempted to browse through it before you head to sleep.

Set a Comfortable Temperature There’s nothing more frustrating than tossing or turning, fighting to find a comfy amount of blanket coverage. Avoid this altogether by taking a moment before bed to adjust the temperature to an agreeable level. If you live in a warmer climate and lack a window, you want to consider adding new windows to control ventilation and bring forth cool breezes.

Colors Matter Choose calm, neutral colors that give off a relaxed tone. There’s technically no bad color to use, but it’s best to shy away from hues that are too exciting as these don’t facilitate an atmosphere you would want to sleep in. Ultimately, the most effective results as far as sleep and relaxation go is to use colors that bring you the most comfort.

Limit Activities in Bed Studies have shown that when the bed is used solely for sleeping, it trains the brain to a have a stronger connection to it with rest. By forgoing television and other non-sleep related habits while in bed, a smoother transition from wakefulness to the beginning stages of light sleep is had.

Secrets to a Spiffy Home Office

The home office is a centralized space used to serve all business doings. In order to properly get things done, it needs to be organized and furnished in the right way. Transforming a workspace into a personal dojo is no easy feat - but it is worth it in the long run. We examine why this is and lay down some key steps to re-purposing your office into a prosperous work environment.

Let There Be Light Nobody likes a cramped, stuffy room; bottom line, it’s uncomfortable. Unless you’re content with the cramped quarters of a basement, choose a room with windows to promote natural light and air flow. If you already have an established home office, but it lacks ventilation or enough sunlight, reach out to Wallside Windows to get a free in-home estimate and learn how we can help install custom-designed replacement windows in your office.

Privacy Is Key Have you ever tried reading in a room full of people talking? Re-reading the same sentence, getting interrupted every few paragraphs, and that dreaded feeling that you’re ultimately not getting anything done - it’s not exactly a good feeling. Mitigate the chance of noise disturbances by selecting an area of your home that is away from chatter and in a spot that you’re unlikely to be interrupted.

Gear Up Equip yourself with the tools, furniture, and technology you need to effectively do your work. The best bet for a desk is going with one on the larger size (that is if you can make it fit). With a larger surface space, you can space out your computer, important documents, and use a desk calendar so that all of your plans can be easily inputted and seen right in front of you. Additionally, you may want to consider a desk with drawers; this will allow easy, organized accessed all in one place. Lastly, outfitting the office with a comfortable reclining chair to occasionally read and take breaks is excellent for clearing your head.

The Subtle Yet Impactful Role of Atmosphere Atmosphere plays a subtle yet effective role in determining the feel of a room. Rooms painted with bright and vibrant colors, for instance, exude an exciting aesthetic. Conversely, those with earthy tones like neutral hues of green and beige facilitate a calmer tone. For your office, choose a color that naturally makes you comfortable and confident. Other types of decor like pictures, plants, and other visual elements of decor spur motivation and enthusiasm.

Space It Out It’s counterproductive to your well-being and productivity to be cooped up in a corner for long hours at a time. To avoid this, position your desk, furniture, and storage units in a layout that allows you to walk around and stretch out without having to leave the office.

Three Advantages of Allowing More Sunlight Into Your Home

Although many people love the sun simply for basking in its warm rays, there are many other advantages beyond the simple comfort of tanning. Listed below are three major benefits from incorporating the sun’s natural light into your home.

Enhanced Quality of Sleep Instead of opting for over-the-counter sleep medication and all its potentially risky side effects, there’s a natural, arguably just-as-effective alternative that’s right outside your window - the sun! Numerous studies have discovered that by exposing one’s self to natural light for roughly fifteen minutes to an hour (this varies on an individual basis), it realigns our natural circadian rhythms; this is related to our internal biological clock, which controls when it is time for our bodies to go to sleep. If we receive an insufficient amount of sunlight, the circadian rhythm could be altered and in turn disrupt our sleep cycles.

Heightened Mood Contact with sunlight naturally produces serotonin, which is a chemical in the brain that balances mood. A lack of serotonin may cause a slip into depression, mood swings, and reduced hunger. Stimulate the intake of serotonin in your home by installing new windows in places where people eat, converse, or lounge so that they can soak up that quality sun as often as possible.

Absorption of Vitamin D Within the sun’s rays exists rich amount of Vitamin D. Once its light meets human skin, the rich Vitamin D soaks into our system. By being exposed to sunlight and in turn receiving Vitamin D, the immune system grows stronger which in turn reduces the risk of many ailments. In addition, exposure to sunlight has been linked to decreased rates of melanoma, various cancers, and many other maladies while also pointing to increases in bone health and many other positive physiological effects.

Lower Blood Pressure Recent studies have found that increased exposure to sunlight leads to lower blood pressure. It is said that the increased intake of nitric oxide delivered from sunlight exposure subsequently lowers blood pressure. Though the research is hopeful, it’s still in its early stages and thus not totally confirmed in the medical field.

Sources: http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/how-sun-lowers-blood-pressure

What to Do Before and During a Power Outage

When the power goes out, it sends us a stark reality check that communicates just how severely we depend on it for everyday necessities. Without knowing how to handle the sudden loss of clean water, lighting, internet, and television - amongst other utilities - it can be quite devastating. To avoid a mini crisis or panic when a power outage strikes, follow these steps below.

Preparation Although the chance of power outages occurring may vary depending on where you live, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to prepare for them. To ready your home for a power outage, gather together food that your family can survive on for roughly one-to-three days (or more if it makes you comfortable). Gather non-perishable foods with long expiration dates, bottled water, batteries, flashlights, a radio, blankets, and anything else that will add to your health and comfort. Place these in a crate with a label entitled "power outage kit" so that it's easy to find and everything is stored in one place.

Boil Water When there’s an electrical outage, it adversely affects the cleanliness of home waters - so there’s a possibility that the running water will be contaminated. If your supply of bottled water and other packaged beverages runs out, boil your water as a preventive measure to eliminating harmful bacteria.

Proper Insulation In the event of a power outage during the winter, you will want to shut all doors and windows while also making sure to seal any open crevices; doing so will assist in conserving heat. Secondly, make sure to dress warm with as many layers as needed. To facilitate optimal insulation, make sure your current replacement windows are updated with features that cater to maximum home energy-efficiency such as low-e glass, a low U-factor, and double or triple glass panes.

Keep Food as Fresh as Possible A great deal of the food in our home refrigerators is perishable, meaning without proper storage temperature it will quickly become unsafe to eat. This goes for meats, yogurts, dairy products, condiments, and pretty much any good stored in the fridge or freezer. If a nearby neighbor or friend’s power is up and running, quickly transport your refrigerated foods to their fridge in order to keep the food properly stored. However, if this is not an option for you, eat this refrigerated food first (before it goes bad); be sure to conserve it as best you can while also remembering to open-and-shut the doors as quickly as possible to avoid the cold from escaping.

Regularly Check Power Status Every few hours or so, flip a light switch to check if the power is back on or not. This may sound like common sense, but it’s good to check so that you can get back to living with electricity as soon as possible.

How to Secure Your Home Before Leaving for Vacation

Though you’re probably giddy with excitement to rush out the door and begin your vacation, it’s important to not let this blind you from taking the time to fully lock up. Follow these preventive measures to ensure your house is protected during your time off.

Shut Off Electronic Appliances There’s no point to keeping energy-sucking appliances such as the television, laptop, or other electronics on when no is using them; unplug these to cut back on your energy bill. A popular exception to this, though, is scheduling lights to turn on at specific times of the day as an attempt to make it appear that someone is home and ward off potential burglars.

Contact the Post Office Though you may be taking a break from work, the post office hasn’t. While you’re away, your mail is likely to stockpile up and possibly overflow. To prevent important documents from being stolen, contact the postal office to hold off from delivering your mail so that you can pick it up later when you return.

Keep Windows Locked Reduce the threat of break-ins and interior damage from weather by locking up windows on all levels of your home. Also be sure to cover windows with drapes or blinds so people cannot peer in and look into your belongings. If unsure about the performance of your windows or if they need to be upgraded or not, consult a professional at Wallside to discuss your options for replacement windows.

Clean Up Finish laundry, vacuum, and put all goods and appliances in their proper places before leaving. This way, when you return, you can enjoy the remaining time of your vacation without being burdened by chores.

Help from Friends and Family Prior to leaving, ask a reliable friend or family member to check up on your home every couple of days. Especially if you are gone for a significantly long amount of time, it’s reassuring to know someone is checking up on your property for any signs of suspicious behavior. Also, for those with pets such as fish or hamsters, ask a friend to feed it as needed. With other pets that require a bit more attention - like dogs and cats - it’s better to have them temporarily relocated to a friend’s house so that they can be watched and fed.