Objects You Shouldn't Keep by Your Pillow

Our bedroom’s decor can significantly affect our emotions and sleep quality. Interestingly, the objects we keep next to our pillows and our nightly rituals also influence our sleep patterns. Common habits, such as kicking off sneakers or scrolling on your cell phone, should be reconsidered to improve your sleep.

Here are four objects to avoid placing by your pillow, based on worldwide beliefs and facts.

Your bedroom layout is deeply personal. What works for some may not work for others. However, here are four items best kept away from your pillow:

Sharp Objects

Keeping sharp items like knives or scissors far from sleeping areas is essential. This practice serves more than a safety purpose; it stems from the idea that these objects can disrupt the energy needed for restful sleep.

The principles of Feng Shui support this belief. Sharp objects are thought to emit 'sha chi' or negative energy, disrupting the flow of 'chi' or life force in your bedroom. Removing these items can help enhance your chances for restorative rest.

Books or Electronics

Many read books or scroll through their devices before bed, unaware of how this affects sleep. The narratives we engage with can shape our dreams and impact our sleep quality. Operating on this logic, ask yourself if a thriller before bed is wise.

Books may boost our imagination; however, blue light from devices can scientifically disrupt sleep patterns. Additionally, consuming social media or unsettling news can linger in your mind. To sleep better, avoid screens an hour before sleep, and opt for light bedtime reading.

Shoes

Worldwide wisdom advises keeping shoes away from the bed, commonly rooted in cleanliness and the spiritual sanctity of our sleep spaces. In cultures like Japan and Scandinavia, people remove shoes when entering homes, emphasizing respect for clean environments. The bedroom, seen as a sanctuary, should be unspoiled by external factors; hence, shoes have no place there.

Practical concerns support this notion. Having shoes by your bedside can pose tripping risks, and nobody appreciates tracking in mud. Consequently, take a hint from Japanese customs and leave footwear at the door.

Mirrors

Mirrors carry a wealth of folklore and superstition within the bedroom. Historically, they have been seen as portals capable of attracting or trapping spirits. In the 1800s, mirrors were covered after a death to avoid trapping the deceased’s spirit, particularly in bedrooms where people passed away.

Feng Shui rules advise against placing a mirror opposite a bed, as this can reflect energy back onto you while you sleep, inducing restless nights. The bouncing of energy—beyond light—can create an overstimulating environment.

Practically speaking, having a mirror nearby can disorient those waking up at night. Encountering your own reflection unexpectedly can be unsettling or frightening.

Incorporating this knowledge can help optimize your sleeping environment. By reconsidering the items around your pillow, significant improvements in your sleep may follow.

Earlier, SSP told why we knock on wood for luck.