I Kondo’d my night table and it dramatically improved my sleep

It’s no secret that my sleep began to suffer as soon as we started to get nervous about this potential pandemic back in early March—and I know I’m not alone. Some nights I’d toss and turn for several hours before falling asleep or I’d wake up for the day and 4 a.m. Sometimes I’d experience both, and let’s just say I’m no fun when I’m sleep-deprived, and it definitely affects my work productivity as well.

The situation improved slightly once the whole camp situation was settled (i.e. cancelled), but once COVID cases began to rise in Florida around Memorial Day, my insomnia was back. Then I decided to try falling asleep to rain sounds, and I can honestly say it’s been a game-changer. Now I literally pass out within 10 minutes of turning out the lights, and I manage to sleep until the dog wakes me up around 7.

I started by using an app on my phone (which charges on my nightstand) but the sound quality was lacking. I ordered an Echo Dot with a clock since I had been using my Apple Watch (which also charges on my nightstand overnight) to check the time—which is challenging when I’m not wearing my glasses. Once I set up the Dot I realized how much clutter was going on between my phone/watch charging dock, and admittedly too many lotions and potions. I knew I had to reset to create a more calm, sleep-friendly environment.

So here’s what my nightstand looks like now. (Unfortunately I don’t have a “before,” but trust me, this is a lot more streamlined.) The Dot alone solved my sleep-sound and time-telling problems, and the lack of extraneous charging equipment helped create a more soothing scene. In this case, less clutter has translated to more sleep, so at least I have one less thing to worry about. And as an added plus, I’m been so much more pleasant. Ask my family, and I’m sure they’ll agree!