How I Prioritize Sleep for my Family
As a sleep consultant, I obviously love sleep! But why? What started all of this in the first place?
Even as a little kid, I knew I felt better when I got good sleep. As I’ve gotten older, the affects of sleep deprivation have become more and more tangible. Whenever I get less sleep, I FEEL my anxiety increase, I’m irritable, forgetful, I experience brain fog and I am never as productive as I’d like to be. For my kids, their emotions are always heightened, they are also more irritable, they fight more with each other, drag through sports practice and homework, and overall feel less like themselves.
Needless to say, sleep is a huge priority around here. Not just for me, but for my entire family. Sure, it can be hard sometimes, but we all know it’s important so we treat it that way!
Here are a few things I do to prioritize sleep for my family:
1. Set clear boundaries - family parties, Sunday dinners, schedule for babysitters, etc. An example might look like this: “Yes, we’d love to come over for dinner, but our baby goes to sleep at 7. Is it possible for us to do dinner a little earlier so we can get back in time for bed? We’ll bring dessert!”
2. Talk about it with your kids! Talk about the importance of sleep. Talk about what happens to your body when you sleep (memory is solidified, growth, development, restoring of cells in your body, healing, etc.). My daughter (4th grade) started putting up a fight saying she’s too old to go to bed before 9 and all her friends go to bed late. We talked about why it’s important and I asked her to notice how she feels going to bed at 8 vs going to bed after 9. We tested it over the weekend and even she could feel a huge difference!
3. Figure out what helps you/your kids sleep best. What helps you wind down? What things do you need to optimize sleep? Yoga, meditation or reading before bed? Warm bath? Pillow talk? Clean kitchen? Relaxing music? Get to know your body and your kids’ needs and do what you can to make sure those needs are met.
I totally understand that sometimes these things can’t happen, and that’s okay! As long as you do your best and try to get good sleep for your family the majority of the time, you will all feel happier, healthier, and well-rested❤️