01/08/2023
One of the healthy habits I struggle most with is getting to bed on time. I just can’t resist that time when everyone else has gone to sleep. Its quiet, calm and no one is asking me for anything or jumping on me. Sheer bliss. I know I’ll pay for it by feeling rubbish in the morning, I know it’s not great for my health but I need it for my sanity!! 🤪
Its not unusual, people, mostly mums, find themselves deliberately sacrificing sleep in order to reclaim some personal time for ourselves.
After a busy day, we crave relaxation and leisure, and staying up late feels like our "revenge" against the demands of our daily responsibilities.
Of course this doesn’t come without its side effects and that’s not just feeling tired in the morning🥱, there are negative effects on our health and well being too.
Sleep deprivation can lead to poor concentration, memory issues and lack of focus, weight gain, heart issues, poor immune function, high blood pressure, mood swings, irritability and mental health issues and leave us more likely to experience daytime fatigue, which can lead to accidents and impaired driving abilities.
So here’s what I’m doing to try to get to bed earlier and stop the procrastination
⏰Establishing a clear bedtime schedule – change your bed time by small increments at first. Going to bed 20mins earlier is way more achievable than 2 hours earlier!!
💻 Limit screen time before bed – the light from screens has a negative effect on how much sleep hormone, Melatonin we we produce which can make going to sleep hard.
🌞 Light Exposure – get plenty of exposure to natural light as you can as it helps to reset your circadian rhythms
✅ Set up a relaxing night time routine – this could include herbal teas, relaxation techniques or reading...whatever you find calm and peaceful.
It can be hard to achieve balance during our busy days (for mums in particular) but sleep is not a luxury; it's a necessity for our health and happiness!
Share your thoughts or sleep tips in the comments below! 👇
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
