Final 12 months, I had a small transforming undertaking that acquired somewhat out of hand. It will definitely led to me transforming my entire kitchen. That’s a narrative for an additional day and one other weblog submit. Nonetheless, I’m actually grateful for among the adjustments that got here from this rework, particularly our new DIY charging drawer.
I added much more drawers within the backside cupboards as a result of they’re a lot extra sensible and usable. And by doing so, freed up quite a lot of area. For the primary time, I used to be left with drawers I didn’t have a function for. I remembered one thing I’d seen years in the past on Pinterest about making a charging drawer or docking drawer.
This has now grow to be considered one of our most-used drawers (most likely proper after the silverware and spice drawers). I like that it’s led to more healthy tech habits too.
On this submit, I’ll stroll you thru how I created a charging drawer with a drawer I already had. I’ll additionally clarify why it’s so vital to maintain our gadgets out of the bed room. Plus I’ll share how this small change has made a huge impact on our household’s tech habits.
Why It’s Necessary to Maintain Gadgets Out of the Bed room
First, let’s speak about why having a charging drawer within the kitchen—or one other widespread space—is a game-changer. Particularly on the subject of your sleep hygiene and general well being. Many people are responsible of bringing our telephones into the bed room, whether or not it’s to verify social media, reply emails, or (let’s be sincere) scroll by means of infinite reels. However there are some vital the reason why this won’t be the healthiest alternative.
The Influence of Blue Mild on Sleep
Probably the most apparent causes to keep away from having gadgets close to your mattress is the impact of blue mild on sleep. The screens of telephones, tablets, and different digital gadgets emit blue mild. This could intrude with melatonin manufacturing, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Research have proven publicity to blue mild earlier than mattress can delay sleep onset, cut back sleep high quality, and make it more durable to fall right into a deep, restorative sleep.
By preserving your gadgets out of the bed room, you’ll be able to assist your physique wind down naturally, with out the interference of synthetic mild. For those who’ve ever discovered your self scrolling mindlessly in your cellphone earlier than mattress after which having bother falling asleep, you’ve skilled this firsthand. The answer? Maintain your telephones, tablets, and different gadgets in a devoted charging area outdoors the bed room. Just like the charging drawer I’ve created.
For those who aren’t keen to do this, there are issues we will do. Examples embody placing a crimson mild filter on the cellphone, sporting blue-light blocking glasses. You may as well change to one thing just like the Daylight Pc (I like this for journaling and writing at evening).
Scale back Late-Evening Distractions
One other concern with having gadgets close to your mattress is the fixed temptation to verify them. Whether or not it’s an pressing work e-mail, a textual content from a pal, or the most recent information replace. This fixed connectivity can result in late-night distractions, leaving you feeling wired and anxious as an alternative of relaxed and prepared for relaxation.
With a charging drawer, you’ll be able to create a wholesome boundary between your bed room and the surface world. By setting a agency rule that gadgets should be charged within the kitchen or one other designated area, you’ll be much less more likely to verify them through the evening. This easy behavior can enhance your sleep high quality and enable you to be extra current with your loved ones through the day.
Improved Focus and Connection
When your gadgets are tucked away in a drawer, it’s simpler to concentrate on the current second. For households, this implies extra high quality time spent collectively with out the distractions of texting, gaming, or scrolling. By having a chosen space for charging gadgets, we encourage everybody to be extra intentional about when and the way they use know-how.
Now, let’s speak about how I created this charging drawer and why it’s been such a game-changer in our residence.
How I Created My DIY Charging Drawer
Making a charging drawer in my kitchen was a comparatively easy undertaking, and it didn’t require quite a lot of fancy instruments or abilities. I began with a drawer I already had in my kitchen, and with just a few small changes, turned it right into a practical and arranged area for charging gadgets. Right here’s how I did it!
Step 1: Discover the Proper Drawer
I had a drawer in my kitchen that was underused and somewhat disorganized, so I made a decision to repurpose it for this undertaking. Ideally, the drawer must be in an area that’s simply accessible to the entire household however not in a high traffic space the place it could possibly be a distraction. Our kitchen labored completely as a result of it’s near our household’s each day actions, but it surely’s not the place the place we go to unwind at evening.
You don’t want to purchase a brand new drawer—simply discover one which you have already got in your kitchen, workplace, or lounge that’s not serving a lot of a function. If the drawer is simply too small or shallow, you would possibly wish to think about swapping it for a deeper one that may accommodate a number of gadgets.
Step 2: Set up a Energy Strip Contained in the Drawer
That is the place the magic occurs! The important thing to creating a charging drawer work is including an influence strip or surge protector contained in the drawer. This lets you plug in all of your gadgets in a single place, preserving every thing organized and out of sight.
I selected an influence strip that match completely contained in the drawer, with sufficient shops to cost a number of gadgets without delay. It’s vital to pick out an influence strip that has a protracted sufficient twine to achieve your nearest outlet. You additionally need one with surge safety to make sure the protection of your gadgets. Be certain that the ability strip is positioned in a means that enables airflow to forestall overheating. To perform this, I re-wired a plug that was once exterior dealing with on the aspect of a cupboard to be inside dealing with. This left the cupboard under largely open. It now shops rubbish baggage and enormous containers for the kitchen.
You may as well add charging cords which are lengthy sufficient to comfortably attain from the ability strip to your gadgets. I like to recommend preserving quite a lot of cords for various gadgets—some for iPhones, some for Androids, and others for iPads or tablets.
I did discover energy strips particularly designed for this. However at nearly $300 every, I needed to strive a DIY choice and am glad I did.
Step 3: Add a Silicone Mat to Shield the Drawer
As soon as the ability strip was put in, I added a silicone mat to the underside of the drawer. This protects the floor and prevents any gadgets from slipping round. Silicone mats are heat-resistant, non-slip, and straightforward to scrub, making them good for this type of undertaking. Additionally they add a pleasant contact of group, preserving every thing in place and looking out tidy.
Step 4: Set up the Cords and Gadgets
Now comes the enjoyable half: organizing the cords and gadgets. I made certain to maintain every thing neat and accessible. This concerned coiling the cords and utilizing small clips to maintain them from tangling. I additionally made certain to go away sufficient room for every gadget to relaxation comfortably whereas charging.
For our household, the charging drawer has grow to be the go-to spot for telephones, iPads, and some other gadgets that want a cost. Everybody is aware of the place to plug of their gadgets. There’s additionally no have to seek for chargers or battle over who will get to plug in first.
Our Household’s Charging Routine and Display Time Habits
Since we added the charging drawer to our kitchen, it’s actually helped us set up wholesome habits round our gadget use. Right here’s how we use it:
- Gadgets are charged in a single day within the kitchen: We’ve made it a rule that telephones, iPads, and different gadgets should be charged within the drawer in a single day. This ensures nobody is tempted to verify their gadgets late at evening. And we get up with absolutely charged gadgets, prepared for the day forward.
- No screens after darkish: We attempt to keep away from utilizing screens after darkish, particularly within the hour or two main as much as bedtime. With the charging drawer, it’s a lot simpler to maintain gadgets out of attain and out of thoughts throughout this time. This behavior has helped enhance our sleep high quality, particularly for the youngsters.
- Household-wide tech detox: We’ve additionally made it a behavior to maintain screens off throughout household meals. This has made supper time a extra related expertise. We use this time to catch up, chat about our day, and concentrate on one another with out distractions.
Conclusion: The Advantages of a DIY Charging Drawer
Including a DIY charging drawer to our kitchen has been among the best issues we’ve performed for our household’s tech habits. It’s a easy resolution that promotes more healthy sleep, reduces distractions, and encourages extra aware use of our gadgets. By preserving our telephones and tablets in a devoted area, we’ve created higher boundaries between know-how and leisure. It’s additionally improved our general well-being.
For those who’re searching for a easy approach to make your property extra organized and tech-friendly, I extremely advocate establishing a DIY charging drawer. It doesn’t take a lot time, and the advantages are completely value it!
Joyful charging, and right here’s to more healthy tech habits for the entire household!
What are your loved ones’s guidelines and habits round gadgets? Depart a remark and tell us!
