How You Can Keep Out Noise and Light

Everyone deserves a good night's sleep - it's as important as proper diet and exercise for achieving optimum health. But as everyone knows, a good night's sleep can be hard to come by. Everyday stress and worries may make it difficult to enjoy a healthful rest. Factors outside of our control, inherent to our environment also can make a good sleep impossible. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), the ideal sleeping environment may be one that is cool, dark, and quiet. Therefore, outside noise and lights can be important obstacles to a restful sleep.

The NSF reports that 40% of females and 30% of males suffer from sleeping problems. It's no secret that a lack of sleep can result in a loss of concentration and inability to accomplish required tasks. Sleeplessness may be even more problematic: A survey found that people with chronic insomnia are more likely than others to develop a myriad of psychiatric problems; also, at least 1,500 people a year lose their lives to fatigue-related car accidents.

Given the numerous health risks caused by sleeping problems, the NSF has set forth six tips for achieving a healthy, restful night's sleep:

• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the late afternoon and evenings.
• Exercise regularly, at least three hours before bedtime.
• Don't nap during the day.
• Establish a bedtime routine that is relaxing.
• Associate your bed with sleep; don't watch television or do work in bed.
• Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
• Even when these NSF tips are followed, light and noise from outside your home may present the final obstacle to enjoying a good night's sleep. But with room darkening/blackout window coverings these environmental factors that were once an unavoidable irritation can now be easily managed, and almost completely eliminated, by the twist of a wand or the click of a remote control. hotBlinds' window treatments address the problem of unwanted light for better sleep.