As busy mums, we have endless to-do lists. From doing the grocery shopping and preparing meals to cleaning the house and keeping on top of the laundry, not to mention working as well. Sometimes it seems like there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
With so much of our minds, it is all too easy to put our own needs to the back of our minds and focus on our little ones. But it is important that we make time for ourselves to relax and get the rest that we need, so that we can be the best parents possible.
The most important thing that many mummies are missing out on is getting enough sleep. To be a good mummy, it is important that you make time for yourself so that you get enough sleep and are well rested.
To help you find ways to get enough sleep, we have come up with a guide to all the best strategies for ensuring that you get enough sleep.
The first thing you need to do is understand that sleep matters and commit to that mindset. Don’t be swayed into believing you can get by on a small amount of sleep, remember, sleep is crucial.
If you hear friends bragging about how they get by on a small amount of sleep, remember that we need adequate sleep to function. The idea of being able to function properly on very little sleep is just that, an idea. Even if your friends truly believe they can function well on a small amount of sleep, the truth is, they can’t. Even if the lack of sleep isn’t affecting them on the outside, it can cause low immunity, higher stress levels and out them at higher risk of heart disease.
Work out how to create space in your schedule for sleep
The second thing you need to do is find a way to create space in your schedule for sleep. Think about what you are currently doing that you could remove from your schedule.
Do your children have after-school activities that mean you get home late every night, with homework and dinner still to do? If this is the case, sit down with your children and ask each of them to choose two of their after school activities to do each week and have the other nights for relaxing at home.
Do you spend an hour or so watching television after the kids are in bed? While you might enjoy having some television time, you would be much better off getting an extra hour or two of sleep.
Create a bedroom environment that promotes sleep
Your bedroom should only be for two things: sex and sleep. It shouldn’t be a place where you work or watch television. Your bedroom needs to be a relaxing and calm environment that supports your sleep.
Your bed should be comfortable, and the room should be quiet and dark. Any noises like traffic outside, the radio or your partner’s snoring should be blocked out. To keep the noise of the traffic out, keep your bedroom window closed. If it disturbs you sleep, keep the radio turned off. And, if your partner’s snoring bothers you, invest in a snoring mouthpiece to prevent it. If all else fails, buy a pair of ear plugs.
Put a bedtime routine in place
You may not believe it, but by putting a bedtime routine in place, you can help your body to relax and switch off at the end of a long day.
Think about what makes you feel relaxed, such as a bubble bath or reading a good book, and incorporate them into your bedtime routine.
Do you get enough sleep?
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