When I was a kid, I remember being absolutely giddy about Daylight Saving Time (DST).  After all, there was more glorious daylight to play in after school. During the summer, my friends and I gleefully ran the streets of our suburban neighborhood on our bikes up to 8 p.m. every day during the summer! It was our job; and we did it well… very well. 

I find that I get that same brand of glee when it’s time to spring forward.  Not everyone shares my view. Some folks would rather stay on standard time. One benefit of staying on standard time is not having to adjust your sleep pattern to get the sleep you need.  Not every state or territory does DST – Arizona, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.  But for most of us in the United States and Canada, DST begins on March 14, 2010. 

For those of you who have your sleep challenged by DST, some sources suggest you can prepare for the time change by going to bed 15-20 minutes earlier each night during the days preceding time change. By Sunday, you’ll have adjusted your sleep schedule and will feel less groggy. (This technique also works if you need to adjust your bedtime to get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep nightly.)  

So, if you live in a place that enjoys DST, remember to set your clocks forward by one hour before retiring for the evening on Saturday, March 13 and you’ll wake up in time for your Sunday activities.
 

Sources:

http://geography.about.com/cs/daylightsavings/a/dst.htm
http://www.timetemperature.com/tzca/daylight_saving_time_canada.shtml
http://sleepdisorders.about.com/b/2009/03/05/start-preparing-for-the-spring-ahead.htm
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/dont-lose-any-sleep-over-daylight-saving-time.html

All of Budget Blinds motorized window treatments feature Somfy motorization.  According to our friends at Somfy, the leading reason homeowners choose to upgrade their window coverings with motorization is because the windows are hard to reach.  However, motorization has other benefits that you may wish to consider, particularly programmable motorization.   With programmable motorization, you can set your window treatments to open and close a prescribed times throughout the day. 

If waking up is hard to do, programmable motorization may help you start a little easier by waking you with sunlight instead of a jarring alarm. Set your motorized window treatments about 15-30 minutes before your alarm rings, and you’ll wake up more naturally. (Use your alarm clock as back up.)

During the day, programmable motorization can help you cut solar heat gain in your rooms, which in turn, will help reduce your home energy costs. As an added bonus, programmable motorization will make your home appear occupied even when no one is home. This will make would-be burglars think twice before choosing to break into your home. 

Lastly, when it’s time to prepare your home for the evening, motorized window treatments can save time by closing all the window treatments with the touch of a button.

To learn more about motorization just ask your Budget Blinds Style Consultant.

This week, a lot of attention will be paid to the topic of sleep.  The National Sleep Foundation just released its annual study on March 8, 2010 and Daylight Saving Time begins on March 14, 2010.  While sleep disorders and their consequences are on the rise, many people could benefit from making a few changes to their bedrooms.

First, your bedroom should be a place where you can rest, relax and sleep.  Does your room help you rest, relax and sleep?  If not, a bedroom tune up may be in order.

Start by eliminating clutter and allergens. Clutter* and allergens**, like dust, contribute to stress.

Next, check the room temperature.  We sleep best in cool rooms – somewhere between 65-70°F or 18-21°C – so turn down the thermostat by a few degrees in the evening. You’ll improve your sleep and decrease your heating bill.

Lastly, to foil the waking effects of light, your room needs to be dark. Some light sources are easy to control. It is relatively easy to turn off inside lights, reposition your alarm clock or turn off the television. Other light sources require you to act like a bouncer, permitting or denying access on your terms.

Your window coverings and the features you add to them are the first line of defense against the sleep-disrupting light from streetlamps and bright moonlight.

• Room darkening liners – Shift workers and urban residents may benefit most from adding these to your new window treatments.  These block the most light from entering the room creating the dark environment that’s most conducive to sleep.
• Routless louvers – If you’ve ever slept in a room with blinds, you may have noticed that light seeps through those tiny holes through which the internal lift cords run.  Routless louvers eliminate those tiny little holes, darkening the room so you can sleep.
• Cloth tapes – If you still want the routholes, you can still counter the light that seeps through those tiny rout holes by covering them with cloth tapes.  Not only will you block the light, but you’ll benefit from the decorative effects of cloth tapes.
• Drapery Panels –  A small gap exists between the window covering and the window frame regardless of how well the window is measured. Custom window coverings tend to have a smaller gap than off-the-shelf versions.  If light is seeping in and disturbing your sleep, drapery panels do double duty as decorative pieces and functional light blockers.  As an added bonus, drapery panels can help dampen sounds, too.
• Cornice boxes and valances – Cornice boxes and valances are decorative touches that are highly effective at blocking light that may seep in through the headrail of a window treatment.  

Your Budget Blinds style consultant can help you find the perfect combination for your bedroom.

Sources for this article:

* http://stress.about.com/od/managetimeorganize/a/homerelaxation.htm

** http://www.webmd.com/allergies/guide/remedies-to-help-sleep

*** http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/cant-sleep-adjust-the-temperature