Reducing Noise and Overstimulation in Your Master Bedroom

Is your master bedroom more like part home office/part theatre?

Good day friend,

To those of us in the North American continent, Asia and Europe, we are entering spring-like weather conditions; aka Spring! May is often a transitional month, or "shoulder season", because of the early spring blossoms that lead us into summer. This is especially apparent in the southern parts of Europe. Whereas, Australia and South America are going into their autumn season with cooler weather and trees shedding their leaves. This time of year offers a huge uptick in several ways: more sunlight, longer days, flowers showing up again in the landscape!!! These "signs" are so helpful to bring one out of the winter blues that seems to last so long. So, it really is a good day!

But, I do want to sart off with something that might feel a little radical. However, I promise it comes from a place of deep care for your rest: your bedroom doesn't need a television...are you still with me?

This may sound extreme. Perhaps you've grown accustomed to falling asleep with the TV on, or you thought having a second screen would be convenient. But, I want to ask you gently if you would consider what these devices are actually doing to your body and mind while you're trying to rest.

When you have a TV, computer, or monitor in your bedroom, you are inviting constant stimulation into a space that desperately needs calm. These devices emit light that signals your brain to stay alert. They carry the potential for " just one more episode" or the temptation to scroll through one more email. Even when these items are off, they sit there as visual reminders that work, entertainment, and connection live in your bedroom. Your brain sees them and knows that productivity and stimulation are part of the space.

For someone experiencing seasonal depression, this matters even more. Your bedroom needs to be a sanctuary. It should be a place where your nervous system can truly settle. When you have electronics present, even turned off, there's a subtle awareness that they are there. It's like having a conversation partner in the room, even when they're not speaking. That presence itself is a form of a stimulation.

Now, consider the printers and extra screens; the things we tuck into a corner thinking they won't matter. A printer is not just a printer. It's something your eye might land on and think of tasks, of work that needs doing. An extra monitor or tablet becomes another thing that could light up; another potential for notification, another reason your brain thinks the bedroom is a place where demands might come.

Your bedroom should not be a home office. It's not an entertainment center. It's a room for rest. I know this might mean making some adjustments to your routine, finding another place to watch your shows or handle your screens. But, when you give your bedroom permission to be just a bedroom; a place devoted entirely to sleep and calm, something shifts. The quality of your rest improves. Your mind stops half-expecting stimulation to appear.

This blog post is actually an act of protection for yourself. What you're essentially saying is that your rest is important enough that it gets its own space, unshared with screens and notifications and work. Your mental and emotional well-being is worth it. YOU are worth it!

I hope you take some time to consider how your quality of sleep and sense of calm and relaxation might improve, should you decide to make these changes in your bedroom. If you want to start slow, try removing one thing at a time; perhaps starting with the computer monitor and moving from there.

Thank you for reading today. Enjoy your week, wherever you are. And, may you find some "new life" sprouting in your garden or back yard this month.

Jeanine