Wrigleyville Dental - April/May 2022

The Art of Quieting Your Mind Before Bed All day long, thoughts run through your mind, and by the end of the day, your head is probably ready to explode. After all, it's estimated that in 24 hours you can have between 60,000–80,000 thoughts. At some point, your brain needs a break, and that’s especially true before you try to go to bed. Here are some ways to quiet your mind, so you can get a full night’s sleep!

KEEP YOUR BED FOR SLEEPING. If you aren’t sleeping, get out of bed! Getting in the habit of scrolling through your phone, watching TV, reading, working, or even eating in bed teaches your brain that your bed is for things other than sleeping! If you find yourself tossing and turning, get out of bed and try a relaxing activity such as reading, journaling, listening to music, or meditating. When you get tired, try getting back in bed. BREATHE DEEPLY. Breathing exercises can not only help calm your mind and spirit, but they can lower your heart rate, which is especially beneficial in relieving stress or anxiety when things are upsetting you.

WRITE IT DOWN. Instead of letting thoughts fill your mind right before bed (such as the next day’s tasks or any worries you have), set aside time before bed to write it out. Whether you are a fan of journaling, writing letters, or simply just listing out your problems, goals, and thoughts, grab a pen and paper and make it a nightly routine. This way, your thoughts will be freed before your head hits the pillow. LISTEN TO MUSIC. There have been many artists making music specifically for sleep. Listening to binaural beats can help put your brain to sleep. If that's not your thing, you can also try a guided meditation to help you relax and get

you in the mood to sleep. Some people even end up falling asleep while listening to these.

TURN YOUR ROOM INTO A SLEEP HAVEN. Keeping your bedroom neat, relaxing, and calm can help improve your sleep! Keep all televisions, computers, and screens out of the bedroom and furnish it with soft colors and textures that are tranquil and soothing to you. Pumping the brakes on worrisome thoughts racing through your mind can be tough, but trying these tips and tricks may earn you some relief and much needed sleep.

With These 3 Hacks MAKE YOUR KITCHEN CLEANER THAN EVER BEFORE

You cook your meals, make your coffee, wash the dishes, and do so many other activities in your kitchen. It’s no surprise that our kitchens are often the most trafficked rooms in our homes. Our kitchens are also commonly the messiest rooms in the house since they’re used to cook meals. Trying to keep your kitchen clean on a daily basis can be maddening. Every time you make a meal, there’s another mess to clean up. It seems like there’s no end to the kitchen cleaning process. Thankfully, there are a few hacks you can try that will lengthen your time between cleanings and ideally help your kitchen sparkle. GARBAGE DISPOSAL CLEANING If your home has a garbage disposal, there’s a good chance that it’s one of the dirtiest appliances in your kitchen. It’s also one of the hardest things to clean since it’s located in your sink. But there is an easy trick to keep it fresh. Fill an ice cube tray with water and lemon wedges, then stick it in the freezer. Once it’s frozen, crack the ice cubes free, and send them down the drain with the garbage disposal

turned on. The lemons will improve the smell while the ice removes any excess grime and cleans the blades.

NO NEED FOR AUTO CLEAN How do you normally clean your oven? Do you press the auto-clean button and let it run? While this works, it will often leave your house with a displeasing smell and can even set off your fire alarms. You can make a mixture of 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 1/2 cup baking soda. Spray the inside of your oven with the mixture, but avoid the heating elements. After 8–12 hours, clean the oven with soapy water and dry it using a cloth. Your oven will be cleaner than you might’ve even imagined. QUICK CABINET CLEANING Your cabinets and pantry can get gross quickly and attract bugs if the items inside of them are open or spilled. If you try to clean your cabinets with a rag, you’ll end up missing some of the crumbs and dirt. Instead, use your vacuum cleaner to capture any debris and ensure they are spotless. It’s a quick and easy method to keep your cabinets clean.

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