Our Brainstormed IdeasTo Solve the Problem of Sleep Disruptions

from External Stimuli

Four Happy Wacky Women

Many ideas on the Mind Map

Areas for ExplorationSleep Disturbances due to External Stimuli• Creating individually designed space• Related to electronics• Related to light• Related to house pets• Related to physiological needs/emotional state

– Relaxation– Physical exhaustion

• Related to noise– Related to partner/spouse snoring– Related to street/building noise– Relating to noisy neighbors– Related to household noise

Creating Individually Designed Space

• Creating individually designed space• Sleep centers where one can go to catch up on sleep (sleep

boluses)• Individual isolation sleep pod

– Add massage– Portable sleep pod for airplane flights – Sound proof sleep bubble – Sleep helmet *

• Identify and enable best sleeping position– Specially designed chair– Superb bed that senses phases of sleep and dapts to promote

longer REM cycle

Related to Electronics

• Remove TVs from bedroom• Silence cell phone• Timer for all electronics so that they "wake

up” after sleep needs are satisfied• Silence house phone

Related to Light

• Install blackout curtains• Set timers on light fixtures• Put away all electronics near bed• Sleep goggles• Install only dim light bulbs in bedroom

Related to Household Pets

• Train dog to sleep through the night• Assign job of taking dog out to someone in household or

walker• Train do got go on special pad• Train dog to use diaper• Keep dog in separate room• Get dog physically exhausted before bedtime• Clip dog's nails• Orthopedic dog bed to promote long sleep• Doggie dvd to keep dog entertained • Doggie crossword?

Related to Physiological/Emotional State

• Device to measure activity and alert if suboptimal for subsequent sleep

• Avoid action/terror movies before bedtime• Caffeine meter• Reading to sleep• Reading triggered by motion• Room at optimal temperature/humidity• Identify individual triggers for disrupted sleep

– Device to detect factors affecting sleep (anxiety, tension, lack of exercise)

– Neurostimulator machine that puts you into REMs sleep – Electronic stimulator that temporarily deadens ear nerve

• Pharmacological aids– Pill to eliminate need for sleep– Short acting anesthetic for sleep aid– Eat turkey sandwich before bed– Ensure that room is at adequate temperature– Avoid drinking two hours before bedtime– Avoid alcohol before bedtime

• Physical Exhaustion– Develop intense exercise machine for use before

bedtime – FloodIng therapy (overstimulation prior to bedtime)

• Relaxation – Glass of warm milk – Acupuncture – Hypnosis – Relaxation exercises– Relaxation movement ritual – Aromatherapy

• Sleep pillow with aromatherapy

– Biofeedback– Warm bath

Related to Noise – Partner snoring

• Surgery or treatment for snoring• Alternate sleep times• Sleep in another room• Ear muffs• Sleep in another bed• Wear ear plugs• Separate/divorce

Related to Noise – Street/Building• Move to outer space (international

Space station?)• Move trash collection underground• Fix potholes on the street• Measure noise in area at different

times of day before choosing to live there

• Training device to learn to sleep with noise

• Thicker windows to lessen noise • Develop quieter trash collection

truck systems• Learn how people in extremely noisy

cities like Mumbai are able to sleep

• Ban motorcycles in inner city Ban use during night– Reduce noise from truck/bus

hydraulic brakes

• White noise machine• Go to bed earlier to avoid being

awakened by early morning trash collectors

• Wireless ear plugs with music/sound machine built-in

• Move to the country• Move to internal facing

apartment• Waterfall machine

Related to Noise – Continued• Noisy Neighbors

– Pick apartment that does not abut neighbor's living room

– Ask apartment management to enforce rule about rug coverage

– Ask neighbors to stop making noise

– Retaliate against noisy neighbors– Ask doorman about complaints

from previous tenants before signing contract

– Ask neighbors tonstop wearing heels

– Complain to management, threaten to move

• Household noise– Inhibit noise generating devices– Install soundproofing– Install deep pile carpeting– Have a monitor that alerts when devices

generate noise above a threshold level and starts turning them off

– Ensure household wears slippers instead of shoes

– Turn off all appliances or only buy those rated with very low noise levels

– Restrictions on noise generation devices after certain times

– Add noise to overcome disruption from devices turning off abruptly

– Measure sound levels over 24 hours and pick 8 hours with the least external noise