Nightstand Reset

Is the clutter in your bedroom keeping your mind from relaxing? Maybe it’s piles of laundry, a leaning tower of New Yorker magazines, or rogue food wrappers. Do your nightstands double as storage for random papers or forgotten odds and ends? Even if you can’t see your closet, just imagining the jumbled shoes and stacks of never-worn clothes might feel mentally exhausting.

How long has it been that way?

The best way to tackle a big task is to take one small bite. In this case, it’s time to reset your nightstand. Yes, right now! It’ll take 20 minutes, tops.

Step 1: Gather Supplies

You’ll need: a garbage bag, two boxes or bins, a sheet, a vacuum or broom for dusting, and a mop or cleaning cloths. Bonus points for grabbing a dim, yellow-spectrum light bulb.

Step 2: Clear the Deck

Lay the sheet on your side of the bed. Take everything out of your nightstand and pile it on top—or toss it straight into the garbage bag. Yes, put it all on the bed so you can’t ignore it. Unplug lamps, clocks, phone chargers, and everything else, and toss it onto the pile. No cheating!

Step 3: Deep Clean the Zone

Pull out the nightstand. Dust, sweep, vacuum, and wipe the floor beneath and the wall behind it. Toss any rogue items—hair ties, wrappers, pens, junk—into the garbage bag or onto the bed.

Step 4: Clean the Nightstand

Wipe down the entire piece. If it has drawers or shelves, vacuum or dust them out first, then follow with a damp cloth. Put the nightstand back into place.

Step 5: Rebuild Intentionally

Put the lamp back in place. If you're upgrading the bulb, do it now. Wipe down the lamp, plug it in, and position the switch so it's easy to reach from bed.

Step 6: Curate Your Essentials

Now return only the essentials: things you actually use at bedtime or for sleep. Options:

• One notebook or journal, if you use it, with one pen

• One book, magazine, puzzle, or activity you’re actively engaging with

• One hand cream

• One reading light

• One eye mask

• PAP machine/mask

• Anything else you use nightly

That’s it. No more. If you're tempted to keep multiples, choose just one while you are at your thinking best, so you don’t need to make decisions right before bed. A good rule of thumb: Would you take it on vacation? If not, it probably doesn’t belong here.

Remember: the only things that belong by your bed are for winding down, sleeping, or sex.

Now, for the rest of the stuff: pick up each item and go through steps 7-9. Do not put it back on the bed.

Step 7: Keep It (But Not Here)

Is it something you want to keep but that belongs elsewhere in the house? Place it in the “keep” bin. This might include books, lotions, medications, water glasses, etc. Ask yourself:

·       Have I used this in the past 6 months?

·       Do I truly love it?

If the answer to both is “no”...

Step 8: Donate It

Is it in good enough shape that someone else would want it? Would it be easy to give away? If yes to both, place it in the donation bin.

Step 9: Toss It

Everything else goes in the trash. That includes:

·       Magazines

·       Rarely-used lotions, lip balms, lube, and unidentifiable unguents

·       Dusty hair ties

·       Dried-out pens

·       Finished (or unfinished) puzzles

·       Adult toys that didn’t quite work

·       Random junk

Repeat this process until the bed is completely clear.

Step 10: Finish Strong

·      Take out the trash.

·      Wash the sheet—and bonus points if you wash your bedding, too.

·      Move charging cables and electronics out of the bedroom. If you must keep a clock or charger, place them across the room and face them away from the bed.

·      Load donations into your car.

·      Put away items from the “keep” bin. If you’re out of time or you can’t be bothered, put the entire bin into another room with today’s date on it. Anything you haven’t fished out to use in 6 months, donate or toss.

Enjoy your clear, calm nightstand. Sweet dreams tonight!