Did you get a good night’s sleep yesterday? What about the night before?
We all know the many health benefits of consistently getting enough sleep: getting 7-8 hours of quality shut-eye per night can result in increased energy, better mood, lower stress, better work performance, beautiful skin, and a healthy body.
However, moms of young kids rarely hit this threshold.
I’m a full-time stay-at-home mom and wife. I work part-time for a company that does fantastic work for nonprofits. I try to exercise consistently. And I enjoy spending time with my parents, in-laws, and siblings. I’m purposeful about making time for friends. I volunteer at my kids’ schools.
» » » » » » » » » » RELATED READ: 10 Tips to Improve Your Energy and Your Mood « « « « « « « « «
It’s almost like rest just gets in the way of my busy life.
But the reality is that I wouldn’t be able to do everything else successfully if I didn’t make the time for slumber every day (believe me, I’ve tried . . . it didn’t work).
These three tips have helped me prioritize sleep.
Think About the “Why”
The reality is that most of us have the time to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night. But we tend to push it way down on the list of priorities. There’s so much work to do around the house. That project’s deadline is coming up. We get distracted by our phones or a good book.
I have to be purposeful about asking myself: What’s more important, sleeping an extra hour tonight or watching another episode of Housewives?
I’m purposeful about picking sleep because my well-being depends on it.
Thinking about the benefits of getting adequate shut-eye and identifying the reasons why it matters has helped me tremendously.
Keep That “Why” Relevant and Present
When improving our habits, identifying something does very little if we don’t keep it front and center in our everyday decision-making.
Journaling is a powerful tool for change that helps me stay focused on my intentions. Every morning, I quickly jot down why certain things (like sleep) are important to me. I make a note of how I feel when I get those coveted 7-8 hours of restful slumber.
This keeps me from getting distracted and instead remain steadfast on this goal.
Identify Obstacles and Address Them
Sometimes, no matter how much we try, there are hurdles outside ourselves that keep us from getting enough quality sleep: noise and/or light pollution, uncomfortable sleeping environments, sleeping disorders . . .
It’s important to evaluate our sleep conditions and find viable solutions to any identified problems.
Getting a sound machine, a new pillow, a body pillow, a sleep mask, or visiting a sleep specialist could make all the difference.
Of course all of this is easier said than done, but sleep is SO important. Taking the time to improve our sleeping habits is life-changing, which makes it worth it.
My mood, energy, and overall health have greatly improved since I started to prioritize sleep. But don’t take my word for it–give it a try and get your beauty sleep, mama!
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
