For Sleep and Sex Only: 4 Ways to Eliminate Bedroom Distractions

Close yourself off
If necessary, keep your door closed if you need to guard against distractions or noise from housemates or pets. Even if you're not allergic to them, allowing a cat in the bedroom can aggravate other allergies, found a 2007 European study.

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What distractions keep you up at night? How do you get rid of them?

In 2002, Mayo Clinic researchers found that 53% of pet owners reported disturbed sleep on a nightly basis, many of them from sharing a bed with the animal or getting up to let it out.

Eliminate time cues
You may need to remove clocks from your bedroom, as well. "We all come in and out of deep sleep every hour and a half, but if you don't actually realize you're awake—or that it's the middle of the night—you fall right back asleep," Zammit says. "Noticing the clock can make you feel anxious and keep you up." If you need an alarm, cover it up or put it on the floor, out of sight.

Consider how sex affects your sleep
"Sleep and sex" is the standard rule, but for some people, there's an exception: Getting intimate right before bed may leave you revved up instead of relaxed (this can be especially true for women). If you notice that this is the case, you may want to consider changing your sex schedule to the mornings or early evenings, and giving yourself time to unwind afterward.