West Residents Boost Sleep Quality Using 3 Simple Bedroom Changes

West residents received a five-item sleep environment checklist this week from the city health office, focusing on blackout shades, cool temperatures and reduced screen light to address summer sleep disruptions.

Longer daylight in early July has prompted more calls to local wellness programs about fragmented rest, with the checklist arriving after a March 2026 city survey found 42 percent of adults in West reporting under six hours of sleep on weeknights.

Checklist Items in Practice

Residents start by installing blackout curtains rated at least 95 percent light blocking, available for $35 at the hardware store on Maple Avenue. Next comes setting thermostats to hold bedrooms at 65 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by removing devices that emit blue light after 9 p.m. Sound machines set to 40 decibels and mattresses checked for sagging every three years complete the list.

The West Community Health Hub on Elm Street began offering free checklist workshops on Tuesdays in June, drawing 120 attendees in the first month. Participants also receive referrals to the Riverfront Sleep Lab on 12th Street for overnight assessments priced at $250.

Evidence and Next Steps

A 2025 report from the National Sleep Foundation linked consistent 65-degree bedrooms to 37 minutes more total sleep time per night on average. West data from the same period showed a 19 percent drop in reported fatigue among residents who completed similar adjustments through the health hub program.

Those ready to begin can pick up printed checklists at the health office or download them from the city site before consulting a physician at the Oak Park Clinic for personal adjustments.