Last yr, I had a small remodeling project that obtained a little out of hand. It finally led to me reworking my complete kitchen. That’s a story for one more day and one other weblog post. However, I’m actually grateful for some of the modifications that got here from this transform, particularly our new DIY charging drawer. 

I added a lot more drawers within the backside cupboards as a result of they’re a lot more sensible and usable. And by doing so, freed up a lot of space. 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 creating a charging drawer or docking drawer. 

This has now change into one of our most-used drawers (most likely proper after the silverware and spice drawers). I really like that it’s led to more healthy tech habits too. 

In this post, 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 important to maintain our units out of the bed room. Plus I’ll share how this small change has made a massive influence on our household’s tech habits.

Why It’s Important to Keep Devices Out of the Bedroom

First, let’s discuss why having a charging drawer within the kitchen—or one other widespread space—is a game-changer. Especially in relation to your sleep hygiene and total health. Many of us are guilty of bringing our telephones into the bed room, whether or not it’s to verify social media, reply emails, or (let’s be trustworthy) scroll by means of countless reels. But there are some important the explanation why this won’t be the healthiest alternative.

The Impact of Blue Light on Sleep

One of the obvious causes to keep away from having units close to your mattress is the impact of blue light on sleep. The screens of telephones, tablets, and different digital units emit blue mild. This can intrude with melatonin manufacturing, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycle. Studies have proven publicity to blue mild earlier than mattress can delay sleep onset, scale back sleep high quality, and make it more durable to fall into a deep, restorative sleep.

By retaining your units out of the bed room, you possibly can help your physique wind down naturally, with out the interference of synthetic mild. If you’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 resolution? Keep your telephones, tablets, and different units in a devoted charging space exterior the bed room. Like the charging drawer I’ve created.

If you aren’t keen to try this, there are issues we will do. Examples embody placing a pink mild filter on the cellphone, carrying blue-light blocking glasses. You may change to one thing just like the Daylight Computer (I really like this for journaling and writing at evening). 

Reduce Late-Night Distractions

Another concern with having units close to your mattress is the fixed temptation to verify them. Whether it’s an pressing work e-mail, a textual content from a pal, or the newest 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 possibly can create a healthy boundary between your bed room and the skin world. By setting a firm rule that units have to be charged within the kitchen or one other designated space, you’ll be much less more likely to verify them during the evening. This easy behavior can improve your sleep high quality and help you be more current with your loved ones during the day.

Improved Focus and Connection

When your units are tucked away in a drawer, it’s simpler to concentrate on the current second. For households, this implies more quality time spent together with out the distractions of texting, gaming, or scrolling. By having a designated space for charging units, we encourage everybody to be more intentional about when and how they use technology.

Now, let’s discuss how I created this charging drawer and why it’s been such a game-changer in our home.

How I Created My DIY Charging Drawer

Creating a charging drawer in my kitchen was a comparatively easy project, and it didn’t require a lot of fancy instruments or abilities. I began with a drawer I already had in my kitchen, and with a few small changes, turned it into a practical and arranged space for charging units. Here’s how I did it!

Step 1: Find the Right Drawer

I had a drawer in my kitchen that was underused and a little disorganized, so I made a decision to repurpose it for this project. Ideally, the drawer needs to be in a space that’s simply accessible to the entire household however not in a high-traffic space the place it may very well be a distraction. Our kitchen labored completely as a result of it’s close to our household’s each day actions, but it surely’s not the place the place we go to unwind at evening.

You don’t need to purchase a new drawer—simply discover one which you have already got in your kitchen, workplace, or front room that’s not serving a lot of a function. If the drawer is just too small or shallow, you may wish to contemplate swapping it for a deeper one that may accommodate a number of units.

Step 2: Install a Power Strip Inside the Drawer

This is the place the magic occurs! The key to creating a charging drawer work is including a energy strip or surge protector inside the drawer. This means that you can plug in all of your units in a single place, retaining every thing organized and out of sight.

I selected a power strip that match completely inside the drawer, with enough shops to charge a number of units directly. It’s important to pick a energy strip that has a long enough wire to succeed in your nearest outlet. You additionally need one with surge safety to make sure the security of your units. Make sure the facility strip is positioned in a means that permits airflow to forestall overheating. To accomplish this, I re-wired a plug that was once exterior dealing with on the facet of a cupboard to be inside dealing with. This left the cupboard under largely open. It now shops rubbish luggage and huge containers for the kitchen. 

You may add charging cords which can be long enough to comfortably attain from the facility strip to your units. I like to recommend retaining a selection of cords for various units—some for iPhones, some for Androids, and others for iPads or tablets.

I did discover power strips particularly designed for this. But at nearly $300 every, I wished to strive a DIY option and am glad I did. 

Step 3: Add a Silicone Mat to Protect the Drawer

Once the facility strip was put in, I added a silicone mat to the underside of the drawer. This protects the floor and prevents any units from slipping round. Silicone mats are heat-resistant, non-slip, and straightforward to clean, making them excellent for this sort of project. They additionally add a good contact of group, retaining every thing in place and searching tidy.

Step 4: Organize the Cords and Devices

Now comes the enjoyable half: organizing the cords and units. I made sure to maintain every thing neat and accessible. This concerned coiling the cords and utilizing small clips to maintain them from tangling. I additionally made sure to depart enough room for every gadget to relaxation comfortably whereas charging.

For our household, the charging drawer has change into the go-to spot for telephones, iPads, and every other units that need a charge. Everyone is aware of the place to plug of their units. There’s additionally no need to seek for chargers or battle over who will get to plug in first.

Our Family’s Charging Routine and Screen Time Habits

Since we added the charging drawer to our kitchen, it’s actually helped us set up healthy habits round our gadget use. Here’s how we use it:

• Devices are charged in a single day within the kitchen: We’ve made it a rule that telephones, iPads, and different units have to be charged within the drawer in a single day. This ensures no one is tempted to verify their units late at evening. And we wake up with absolutely charged units, 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 up to bedtime. With the charging drawer, it’s a lot simpler to maintain units out of attain and out of thoughts during this time. This behavior has helped improve our sleep high quality, particularly for the children.
• Family-wide tech detox: We’ve additionally made it a behavior to maintain screens off during household meals. This has made dinner time a more related expertise. We use this time to catch up, chat about our day, and concentrate on one another with out distractions.

Conclusion: The Benefits of a DIY Charging Drawer

Adding a DIY charging drawer to our kitchen has been one of the perfect issues we’ve carried out for our family’s tech habits. It’s a easy resolution that promotes more healthy sleep, reduces distractions, and encourages more mindful use of our units. By retaining our telephones and tablets in a devoted space, we’ve created higher boundaries between technology and leisure. It’s additionally improved our total well-being.

If you’re searching for a easy strategy to make your home more organized and tech-friendly, I extremely advocate setting up a DIY charging drawer. It doesn’t take a lot time, and the advantages are completely value it!

Happy charging, and right here’s to more healthy tech habits for the entire household!

What are your loved ones’s guidelines and habits round units? Leave a remark and tell us!