Sometimes I would love to go back in time and take all of those naps that I refused when I was younger. When you are five and busy building forts, playing with dolls or playing dress up and dancing around like a princess, you hardly have time to waste on naps. If I could go back, I’d tell my younger self, “What are you thinking-take that nap”! There are days where I find myself dreaming about how great a nice long nap would feel. I try to eat healthy and stay active, which definitely helps me stay energized for the most part. But, as a busy mom of three kids who are always on the go, I would love to catch a few extra z’s sometimes. There are times I will try to lay with my kids if I need a power nap or they are being extra cuddly with me. However, I usually use their nap time to get things done around the house. Since my napping days are much more limited, it is critical that I try to get the best night sleep possible. As a Mom, that statement sounds a bit contradicting. Mom duty is a 24/7 job. There are plenty of nights that someone isn’t feeling well, a monster showed up uninvited and has to be asked to leave or my bed is the only place that will due for sleep; which results in me dodging a hand or leg to the face for most of the evening. However, I try to make getting a good night sleep an essential part of my beauty routine and overall wellbeing routine as often as I can. Check out some things that I try to be mindful of during the day that can help me catch the best night sleep possible every night so I am able to hit the ground running in the morning!
1. Follow A Bedtime
Pick a bedtime and try your best to stick with it every night. By going to sleep at the same time every night, your body clock will adjust quicker to your new and consistent pattern and will fall into a sleep routine.
2. Avoid Electronics
I am definitely guilty about wanting to pick up my phone at night before I go to bed or if I can’t sleep in the middle of the night. However, research shows that this can be one of the worst things to do to fall asleep. Light exposure from your phone or other electronics make you more alert, making it harder to sleep.
3. Keep The House At a Comfortable Temperature
It can be hard to find a comfortable temperature if you live with other people. My husband and I are usually on a different page of wanting it warm or chilly when it’s time to turn in for the night. However, there have been a ton of sleep studies that suggest keeping your house on the cooler side during the night can help improve your quality of sleep. I know I like to be a bit on the cooler side and then have the option to throw on a blanket. I find if I am to hot I toss and turn throughout the night which results in a restless sleep.
4. Stay Away From Caffeine
Research has shown that caffeine can affect your sleep for up to ten to twelve hours after drinking it! Even though it is easy to get hooked on having that coffee during the day to keep up your energy, it can be causing a lot of issues to your body’s sleep at night. Try to grab natural things that can add a boost of energy without the caffeine, like my favorite infused water recipes that you can find here.
5. Wind Down
Try to give yourself an adequate amount of time to decompress every night. Your body and brain need time to wind down and relax after running at full speed all day long. Let yourself watch something relaxing on tv, read a book, take a hot bath or do some light stretching or meditating.
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