Tired Moms, Is Your Lack Of Sleep Affecting Your Parenting?
By Mary Speller
At some point or another, you have probably dealt with lack of sleep, whether you remember it or not. Or whether it was related to stress, like finding a job after college, or environmentally related, like living in noisy surroundings. Chances are, most of us have had to deal with those situations and no one has time to be in a state of continual tiredness when coping with a day’s work in the home or office. Day to day family activities such as putting dinner on the table or taking the kids to music lessons can seem like an uphill battle without the energy you get from a good night’s sleep.
Some people believe insomnia is an illness that prevents a person from falling asleep when in fact, people that suffer from insomnia can suffer in a variety of forms including, waking up a number of times in the night and having difficulty going back to sleep, waking up early the next morning, or feeling tired after waking.
This ailment can be categorized into two categories: acute or chronic. Acute insomnia is a short period of time where people find themselves with this unhealthy sleep pattern; the insomnia can continue for a few days or weeks. Insomnia is considered chronic when someone has insomnia that occurs regularly and is long lasting.
Acute insomnia can be caused by different factors including: major life stresses (loss of/change of job, death of someone close, marriage breakdown, moving house), illness, personal discomfort, environmental influences in the sleeping area, medications and an interference of regular schedule (jet lag or shift work) are all initiators of acute insomnia. Causes of chronic insomnia include: depression and/or anxiety, ongoing stress, and body discomfort at night.
Natural remedies, also called sleep hygiene can aid in a good night’s sleep and overcome your lack of sleep. Some guidelines to follow are: going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning. Avoid sleeping during the day because they may make you less sleepy at night. Avoidance of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day is suggested. These are all stimulants that interfere with sleep quality. A diet free from starchy and acidic foods is highly encouraged; eat your greens, people! Try to buy organic and local if you can. Food can either be poison or medicine to your body. Try not to eat a heavy meal later in the day, although a small snack before going to bed may help you sleep.
Exercise regularly, but try not to exercise right before you go to bed, exercising is also a stimulant that can make it hard to fall asleep. Try to have more than four hours allotted between the time you engage in physical activity and the time you wish to go to bed. Make it a priority to ensure your bedroom is a comfortable area. Dark, quiet, and with a perfect temperature are all desirable conditions for deep, meaningful sleep. If noise is a problem, try earplugs or a fan to create “white noise” to cover up distracting sounds. Personalize a routine of relaxation before sleeping. These solo activities can include reading, listening to calming music, taking a bath, or if you can excel at quieting the mind; meditating is always soothing. Experts also suggest not using your bed for anything besides sleep and sex.
The hardest punch to knock out in efforts of overcoming your lack of sleep is to clear the mind. I’m sure you find yourself awake every night worrying about a million things or making another mental to-do list for the next battle of the day. This will not help you. The easiest thing to say but the hardest thing to do: let things go. Stress of the future, regrets of the past, monsters in the closet, thinking of these things will not help you arrive to the destination paradise of sleep. Start each night of slumber by being at peace with yourself or situation. It’s worth a try.
If lack of sleep is making it difficult to look after your family in the way you really want to, you can learn more about how to overcome insomnia at http://howtocureinsomnia.biz
