Feel like you’re running on fumes? Are you getting less than 8 hours of sleep every night? If you’re a mom (stay-at-home or otherwise), chances are you answered yes to both of those questions. Once you have children, they become your priority. You work hard, take care of the house, tend to their needs, and with whatever time or energy you might have left, you use it to recharge.
Your kids mean the world to you and if that means busting your butt day and night to make sure that they’re provided for and have everything their little hearts desire – then so be it. The only problem with this concept is that it leaves little time for you to take care of yourself. Eventually, your health declines, you’re stressed, and on the brink of burning out. The reality is you need sleep, and if you’ve been having trouble getting at least 8 hours a night, these solutions might help.
Get the Kids on a Schedule
You’re never going to get any sleep if your kids are haphazardly running around the house doing whatever they’d like. Developing a bedtime routine for each of your children gets them prepared to wind down and get to sleep faster which leaves you with more time to turn in yourself. Bedtime routines should include tasks like taking a bath or shower, brushing their teeth, reading a book, and getting tucked in for the night.
Calm the Mind
If you’re stressed out, anxious, or overwhelmed about tomorrow’s events before turning in for the night it’s going to disrupt your sleep pattern. Try to silence your thoughts just before bed. You can do this by meditating, or utilizing natural wellness aids that support anxiety and stress relief, such as a hemp oil spray. Reading a positive book, or doing something simply for pleasure before going to sleep can also help to calm your mind.
Create the Perfect Bedroom
Where you sleep can have a major impact on how well you sleep. If you were to take a look around your room, would you see that it is inviting, calming, and comfortable? If the answer is no, it’s time for a few upgrades. You may need a new mattress, darkening window fixtures, better pillows, new bedding linens, and a programmable thermostat to ensure the room is at the right temperature.
Watch What You Drink
It’s not uncommon for moms to want to “relax” at the end of the day with a glass of wine or even a cup of coffee. Yet, drinking either of these in excess could actually keep you up at night. They keep you calm at the moment but are known to increase your heart rate and intensify feelings of anxiety or depression. You can find safe alternatives like herbal or decaffeinated teas, milk, or water.
Prepare a Week in Advance
Your weekends may feel like a time for rest but when this free time is used efficiently, it can help you get more sleep each night. You can prepare your meals and outfits for the entire family a week in advance. Cooking and freezing meals saves you from taking the time to make larger meals during the week. Washing your clothes, selecting outfits, and ironing them in advance shaves a few minutes off your day as well.
As a mom, you want to do everything for your children – even if that means sacrificing all of your time and energy. Though there are a ton of responsibilities that come with the role of a mother, one of your top priorities must remain to take good care of yourself. If you’re neglecting your need for sleep or other forms of self-care, eventually, you’ll burn out. So it’s important to do what you can to start getting at least eight hours of shut-eye every night.