This paid post is sponsored by Terry's Fabrics.

In order to perform well at job interviews or on the job, you need to be well-rested.

Let's face it - whether you're answering interview questions, networking or working 50 hours per week, sleep is essential.  Without the proper amount and quality of sleep, your performance diminishes.  Your thought process slows.  Even the skin on your face starts to sag without the right sleep.

How's your sleep?  To you sleep like a rock or do you toss and turn? 

It wasn't that long ago that my sleep was restless.  Now, it's important to note that for most of my life, I'd slept like the dead.  Lightning storms would skewer the sky, thunder would boom and I would still be sleeping like a baby next to the window.  I'd joke that volcanoes could erupt and I'd sleep right through it.

But then something changed.  My sleep was less sound.  I looked more haggard in the morning.  My thinking was sluggish and my work performance suffered.

Luckily, I was able to figure it out.  I took a look at my bedroom surroundings.  I had too much going on - the TV, exercise equipment, bright colors, etc.  To make matters worse, my bedding was old and was of mediocre quality (at best) even when it was new.

I changed all of that and am now able once again to sleep like a baby.  Here's what I learned (and implemented):

• Bedrooms should be used for only two things - and sleep is the other reason.
• Bedroom surroundings should provide a calming influence.
• Thread count makes all the difference in the world.

If you're looking for a calming influence for your bedroom, be sure to check out Terry's Fabrics.