Lake Country This Month

FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 3A January 2016 247816002 A good night's sleep is good for you How to make the most of your slumber time By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman HARTLAND — The list of benefits related to getting a good night's sleep is long. Getting 40 winks might not add 40 years, but proper sleep hygiene can lead to better health and wellness. Elise Miller at the Lake Country Bed Barn is in the business of sleep. The Lake Country Bed Barn is at 122 Cottonwood Ave., Suite 2, in Hartland. Miller makes cus- tomers aware that their bed plays a significant role in how they sleep. "I usually ask them if they like a hard or soft bed," Miller said. "Lots of people tend to think a firmer bed is best for them. That is an older school of thought." Miller said customers will often lie on a hard bed and learn it is not to their liking. "Most people sleep on their side," Miller said. "If you're sleeping on your side you don't want a really firm mattress. It puts pressure on your shoulders and your hips. "You want something a lit- tle softer, so your hips and shoulders sink a little and keep your spine in line." Your hips and your shoul- ders and spine should not move much during sleep, Miller said. "If you're repositioning a lot at night it probably means you're not comfort- able and you're not sleeping as well," Miller said. "That's a big thing. We see people coming in here and saying they're moving around all the time. "If you stay in a good posi- tion you sleep soundly for a longer period of time." Temperature also plays a factor in your sleep. Miller said women of a certain age will often complain about being too hot during sleep. "Memory foam is thought to be a hot bed," Miller said. "They've changed how they make the foam so it doesn't retain heat. There is also gel memory foam, which is a cooler product." In addition to advice offered in the store, visitors to the Bed Barn's website — http://www.bedbarnwi.com — can receive an email list that explains several ways one can achieve a better night of sleep. The issues addressed by Miller are related to sleep hygiene. Sleep hygiene, as defined by the Arlington, Va.-based National Sleep Foundation, is the variety of diff serent practices neces- sary for nor mal, quality nighttime sleep and full day- time alertness. As it pertains to sleep hygiene, understand that your bed is for sleeping and carnal activities — not eat- ing or building a little fort, as Homer Simpson opined in a classic episode of "The Simpsons." Only two reasons to be in bed Avoid working while in bed — be sure to associate the space with sleep and sex. Take steps to mentally reinforce that connection. Alcohol before going to sleep is a no-no, despite what those of us in the nation's brandy capital are led to believe. An article in Time maga- zine last year cited research conducted at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Researchers found those who drank alcohol before bed suffered from brain pat- ter ns not conducive to a good night's sleep. The NSF suggests going to bed at the same time and waking at the same time, even on weekends. Practice a relaxing ritual before bedtime. Avoid bright light and allow your body and mind time to unwind. Do your best to avoid nap- ping during the day. Keep your bedroom between 60 and 67 degrees and keep the room as free of light and noise as possible. Make sure your mattress and pillow are comfortable. Expose yourself to dim light at night and bright light in the morning — it helps reg- ulate your circadian rhythms. In addition to avoiding alcohol, the National Sleep Foundation suggests stay- ing away from caffeine and tobacco. The NSF also recommends moving to another room and doing something calming if you are unable to fall asleep. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Newborn Mira Miller sleeps like a baby at her parents' store, Lake Country Bed Barn, Hartland. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Examples of individual pocketed coils and memory foams at the Lake Country Bed Barn, Hartland. "Avoid working while in bed — be sure to associate the space with sleep and sex. Take steps to mentally reinforce the connection." Chris Bennet Special to the Freeman Clearing out the clutter Tips for getting, staying organized By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman WAUKESHA — The key in dealing with clutter and get- ting organized is to address the problem before you reach a breaking point, even though it is often that break- ing point that leads one to start working toward a more organized way of life. If you buy a rake or bak- ing pan because you own one and can't find it, you are disorganized. If you cannot move about your garage or a room in your home because it is filled with stuff, you are disorganized. According to Roberta Schneider, owner of Wauke- sha-based Organized Essen- tials, being organized is a lifesaver in many ways. "It's vital," Schneider said. "You otherwise waste so much time looking for things, or buying new things, because you can't find what you need. The chaos that creates just puts you in a rush." Schneider serves homes throughout southeast Wis- consin's seven-county region. She and her fellow organization professionals sell peace of mind and con- tentment, and strive to make lives easier. "Organization provides that sense of calm and free- dom from being so stressed out," Schneider said. "There is plenty to be stressed about. If you can be orga- nized, that is at least off the list of stressors in your life." Schneider's tips for get- ting and staying organized focus on creating a place for things and putting and keep- ing things in their place. Her organization efforts start with the area of greatest need. "The first question I always ask my clients is 'What area is causing you the most stress?'" Schneider said. "What's the pain point they're dealing with on a daily basis? That's where we start." Don't keep it if you don't need it Schneider said parsing one's belongings is an excel- lent first step to getting organized, and it is easier to accommodate new items when one is organized. It is far easier to incorporate and use new items, like Christ- mas presents, when one keeps belongings in a desig- nated place. The simplest thing to do if you wish to get organized in the new year is identify your trouble spots, weed through your belongings and desig- nate a place for the remain- ing items. Be willing to break the task into small pieces and set manageable goals. Start by working for an hour on a certain trouble area — stay- ing organized is as much about managing time as it is about managing possessions and space. A series of checklists which can be used to help stay organized are online at HGTV.com, the website of Home & Garden Television. Checklists can be set up for each day, week, month, quar- ter and year. A daily checklist might include tasks such as sort- ing the mail, putting your keys in the same spot or straightening the coffee table. A weekly checklist might include the grocery list, a check of scheduled family activities and blocking off time for laundry. Monthly tasks can cover paying bills, filing all paper- work or making plans to buy groceries in bulk. Quarterly check marks can include purging clothing and toys, making seasonal plans, dis- carding old periodicals and cleaning the garage. The annual list should address reviewing papers for tax returns, shredding old documents and review- ing household services such as the cable, phone and Internet plan. Organization will eventu- ally become your habit. You will avoid late bills and the stress of overdue charges because you can locate your bills. You will be less stressed when you can find the bicycle pump for your children. Professionals like Schnei- der are available if you feel such a task exceeds your capability. Schneider is on the Web at organizedessen- tials.biz. Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Professional organizer Roberta Schneider with the Keep, Trash or Donate bins used to help people organize their lives when they have too much stuff. "(Organization) is vital. You otherwise waste so much time looking for things, or buying new things, because you can't find what you need. The chaos that creates just puts you in a rush." Roberta Schneider Owner of Organized Essentials

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